A Fresh Perspective on the Love of God

I want to explore a relatively simple Christian topic. God is love. Yep, that’s right—he is. It can be difficult to trust his love. One reason can be we have been given false versions of love. Maybe you were burned by someone important. Maybe your relationship with your spouse can only fill your emotional bucket to a certain extent.

That’s fine, but where lies the problem? I’ll tell you. It’s in the comparison. Let me explain. The reason we have such a difficult barrier to experiencing the love of God is in the comparison. As human beings we look at the love of God that something we can look to human relationships and expect that God will treat us in the same way as those relationships. So in here lies the problem. We disqualify the love of God because we believe that the love of God is that of human love.

The great thing is, is that the love of God is different from the love of people or anything else for that matter. How do we know this? God is a spirit being who died on a cross for our sins so that we may always, absolutely, and inexcusably experience his love at all times.

Here is my favorite part. We are always loved by our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. You can remind yourself of that daily as Satan will try to convince you that are too far from God to experience his love. Romans 8:28 reads, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creations, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You are never too far from God to receive his Love. He is always waiting for you with open arms because he is your Heavenly Father.

Potential, It’s What You’ve Got.

What is potential? God looks at our potential. It’s important that we focus on who we are becoming and not on who we think we are.

Deuteronomy 18:13 states, “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.” God sees us blameless. He doesn’t see anything but good. We need to get it in our heads how free we really are.

Thank you Jesus for seeing the best in me.

Authenticity Matters

Authenticity. The word conjures a bit fear to say it out loud. Let’s look at the definition of the word in Webster’s dictionary.  It says genuineness is the quality of being genuine or not corrupted from the original.

Authenticity is important in our relationships because that’s where we can get healing in those emotional areas of our hearts. We must be in genuine relationship in order to heal from our past. In our past people or events changed us. We have become fearful, hurt people. It can be difficult to open up to other people. But, if you are in an authentic relationship with another person then you can open up to them. When you are in this state of a relationship with another person and when you open up with them about where you are struggling, healing comes. Emotional and spiritual healing can come.

So if you are struggling in life, make some friends!

John 15:13 reads, greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You’ve Got a Glimmer, Love

People are drawn to you because you are a light for Christ. Since the Holy Spirit lives within you people see that. Although they may not know it, they see something different inside of you.

Pretty easy stuff, right? Well, yes but this is the first time that I ever thought that I carry the light of Christ with me wherever I go. That means that I am a representation of Christ and that means I can show others Christ through me.

So often I lead a self-serving life. I constantly stress out about my job discontentment or other things that revolve around a self-centered identity. But maybe God wants me to be more concerned with others and meeting their needs than my own. Yes maybe right now I don’t like my job. Maybe just maybe God has me there to meet the needs of the people that I interact with on a daily basis.

Here is my prayer. God help me to seek your will and not my own desires that revolve around my needs. Help me be content in whatever situation I find myself in, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

We Can’t Do It Alone

I am realizing the importance of living life with a community of people. How often do you get together with other people? How many friends do you have? Can I dare to ask how many of those friends are you able to tell your problems that you struggle with on a daily basis?

I am realizing that the more I spend time with other people we are able to build relationships with each other. This is important because we are able to grow together. It’s easy to stay indoors and not seek out those friendships because they take time and energy but I encourage you to make time for friends so that you can grow spiritually alongside one another.

Another reason why you should spend time with other people is because there are so many other people that need you. They need you to speak truth into their life, they need to hear your take on things, and most of all they need a friend.

Most of all I am learning that we need each other and that is not only about me but other people need me too.

Uniqueness

Did you know that you are unique? You are one of kind. We know this, but do we really know? Take a moment to think about your uniqueness. I know I am different than other girls my age but the truth is sometimes believe the lie that I am nothing special and that I have nothing “special” to offer the world.

This is a lie from the enemy ladies. Just like we all have a different smile and fashion style, we are made beautifully different with unique purposes that can be used to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Right now a healthy thing for me is spending time in the word of God and introspection seeking God on my unique gifts that he has given me. Mine are positivity, counsel, sensitivity, and love. What are yours?

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And, before you leave check out this scripture from Jeremiah 1:5:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Friends of Foes

 

What does that mean, beauty for ashes? I am in a state of frustration wondering, God do you really make beauty for ashes? Can you really make someone beautiful out of my life mess? It’s not that I don’t want to believe he can. I do believe he can but I guess I am just tired. I am tired of not understanding why my life is so difficult. On top of that I am finding it difficult to find people who care about my struggle.

I am not okay and I will not be okay for some time. And that’s okay. Here’s the problem. In life we go through things and a lot of the time we stuff it inside. Maybe you tried to share your issues with someone and they try to tell you just suck it up. They tell you to stop being a baby. Here’s my advice, avoid those people. They are not true friends. Either they don’t care about you or they don’t want to be bothered by your situation. Either way, say goodbye to those people and get involved with some people who are real, allow you to express yourself, and let yourself to express what you are going through. These friends bring life and are friends worth keeping around.