Monday, June 28, 2010
FOOOOOOOD!
So I'm sitting here thinking: "I need something to eat!" Really? Do I really? I had a satisfying lunch thanks to T.H. If I listen closely to my stomach it is saying "Nope, still good." So I change the wording. Now I'm thinking: "I crave something to eat!" Completely different story. Check my stomach again. Still good. Check my mind and my tongue. Hmmm, something's amiss. Must eat something. Chocolate perhaps? Cake? Better yet, chocolate cake!!! I look around my desk. All I see is a bottle of water. You know, maybe I'm just thirsty afterall?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
God's amazing, never-ending, over-flowing love
It seems like forever since I've blogged. Evidently I go in spurts. Right now I feel a need to share something we discussed during our devotions this morning.
Jeff read a devotional by Rick Warren. It talked about how we may love others to the point of feeling drained completely, and what to do at that point. The devotional, being rather simplistic and short, didn't actually explain in practical terms what to do. Rick Warren simply stated that we must re-fuel with God's love for us.
Of course my mind kept pondering long after our devotional time was over.
There are times I feel drained. I don't always love with feeling, although I try my best to love in action. That's easy when the love I show is returned. To love and be loved is such a treasure; it's hardly exhausting. The difficult part of loving is when no appreciation whatsoever is given. Or (as is the case in some instances) the person you need to love the most, actually shows contempt. Is it possible to not get drained; to not give up?
Yes! It is possible to continue loving when our love is rejected!
That's where God comes in. We love because he first loved us! Real love doesn't expect anything in return. Jesus showed us how to love, in spite of being spit on, ridiculed, harrassed and even killed.
He did so by making sure he was in touch with his heavenly Father at all times. He re-fuelled by spending time alone with the Father on a regular basis. He was in tune with what his Father expected of him. His obedience to God trumped his feelings.
Jesus also made a point of loving those who disappointed him. An example of that is when Peter denied knowing him at a time when Jesus was in greatest need of support. Jesus still loved him. He went out of his way to let Peter know he was forgiven and loved still.
We, as believers, need to do the same. We might look like fools to the world, but that doesn't matter. As long as we know we are loved by the Almighty God; as long as we re-fuel on his love by spending time alone with him; as long as we know we are doing as Christ would have us do; what does it matter what the world thinks of us? Even when we feel inadequate, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us so we may be obedient in Christ's love.
Lord, help me to please you. May I be so secure in your love that it spills over on to others. I thank you for contiually forgiving and loving me. Remind me to do the same for others.
Jeff read a devotional by Rick Warren. It talked about how we may love others to the point of feeling drained completely, and what to do at that point. The devotional, being rather simplistic and short, didn't actually explain in practical terms what to do. Rick Warren simply stated that we must re-fuel with God's love for us.
Of course my mind kept pondering long after our devotional time was over.
There are times I feel drained. I don't always love with feeling, although I try my best to love in action. That's easy when the love I show is returned. To love and be loved is such a treasure; it's hardly exhausting. The difficult part of loving is when no appreciation whatsoever is given. Or (as is the case in some instances) the person you need to love the most, actually shows contempt. Is it possible to not get drained; to not give up?
Yes! It is possible to continue loving when our love is rejected!
That's where God comes in. We love because he first loved us! Real love doesn't expect anything in return. Jesus showed us how to love, in spite of being spit on, ridiculed, harrassed and even killed.
He did so by making sure he was in touch with his heavenly Father at all times. He re-fuelled by spending time alone with the Father on a regular basis. He was in tune with what his Father expected of him. His obedience to God trumped his feelings.
Jesus also made a point of loving those who disappointed him. An example of that is when Peter denied knowing him at a time when Jesus was in greatest need of support. Jesus still loved him. He went out of his way to let Peter know he was forgiven and loved still.
We, as believers, need to do the same. We might look like fools to the world, but that doesn't matter. As long as we know we are loved by the Almighty God; as long as we re-fuel on his love by spending time alone with him; as long as we know we are doing as Christ would have us do; what does it matter what the world thinks of us? Even when we feel inadequate, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us so we may be obedient in Christ's love.
Lord, help me to please you. May I be so secure in your love that it spills over on to others. I thank you for contiually forgiving and loving me. Remind me to do the same for others.
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