Love 28 - Conclusion of our Love Series

Abide in His Love

1 John 4:16  NIV 
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

Each day for the past 28 days we have explored the depths of love for one another and for the Father of Love - God. In focusing each day on the topic of Love in Scripture and photo; it has been my desire that each of us embrace the concept fully and then with this revelation knowledge go forth and share the Love that God gave each of us with others - expecting nothing in return. That is the essence of unconditional love. To share love without expecting to be loved in return. To invest in a life where we fully give without expecting a return on our investment.


~Selah~ Pause and think on that.

Today we live in a hurting world full of people that do not know nor comprehend unconditional love and thus have no ability to love as God designed us to love. That ought not be! It is my hope that by sharing unconditional love with all that we come across or chance upon that we plant a seed of love that over time will blossom in their spirit to the point that they too will continue on to share their own spin on unconditional love with others. With a joined effort on all our parts; in a very short amount of time I believe that unconditional love could virtually circle the globe. Think of the possibilities! If all people had the courage to love the way that God loves us - what could we accomplish as a society, as a nation, as a race of humans?

First John 4:16 emphasizes that we need to be conscious of the love God has for us. It's easy for us to say 'God loves me' without really understanding what we're saying. The knowledge of His love should not be some biblical fact to which we mentally assent but a living reality in our lives.

"God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him." The word dwell in this verse means 'to abide, to live in.' It does not refer to visiting; it refers to staying or remaining.

God's love isn't just a fact to memorize or a fleeting feeling. His love is here to stay. God's love doesn't just stay in the good times and leave when things are bad. God's love always remains, so we should remain in His love.

Each of us can reap a greater harvest of Christian maturity when we press into God's love. You will grow in difficult times when you abide in the amazing love God has for you.

Let us bow ...

Father God, Your love and kindness amazes me. As our loving Father, You chose each of us even before the world was ever created. No matter how flawed we may be, We have the sure knowledge that that You still want us as Your people. Thank You for Your goodness! Thank You for Your mercy! Thank You for Your love. Lord, today we purpose our hearts to abide in the love You have for each one of us. So many things change, but Your love never leaves, so this day and all the days to follow I choose to stay rooted in Your amazing love. Thank You for loving us so completely. For choosing us to be Your people and for giving us the capacity to love others as You love us. Give each of us the courage to love one another unconditionally; expecting nothing in return for the love that we show unto others. Help us to supernaturally plant the seeds of love in all that we meet and then water those seeds so that they may grow, flourish and spread onward. You truly are amazing in Your love for us and in all that You do. Enable each of us to be like You. It is in Your precious Name that I ask that love be spread to circle the globe and back again and give thanks in advance of this spectacular occurrence. Amen and Amen!

Love 27

Raise the "Lazarus" in Your Life

John 11:40  NIV 
" Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Remember when Jesus visited Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus had been dead for four days? When He finally arrived, Martha said, "Master, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21).

Martha was clearly in a state of despair. Then, "Jesus said to her, 'Your brother shall rise again.' Martha replied, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day'" (vv. 23-24). I don't think she really understood what Jesus was saying. She was looking toward a future possibility, not a present reality. She didn't really expect things to change.

A lot of us are like Martha, stuck in our troubles, not realizing that God can turn things around. But Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and He can raise the 'Lazaruses' in your life to.

Don't lose hope.

You might be hurting now, things might not be going just right, you might be struggling financially, but out of every disaster you face God can bring a new beginning. Believe in God, and watch Him show His glory in your life.

Precious Lord,
I know that You will work every situation for Your glory. Instead of getting caught up in our problems, help us to believe that You can raise the 'Lazaruses' in all of our lives. Nothing is too big for You to handle for us and through us. Help us to hold on to that fundamental belief as we go about our lives. It is in Your Name that we pray. Amen and Amen!

Love 26

Love 25

Love 24

Love 23

I Corinthians 1:4-6  NKJV 
"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you" 

Love 22

Love 21

Love 20

Romans 12:13 (NIV)

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality"  (welcome others into your homes)

Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining.

Entertaining focuses on the host: The home must be spotless; the food must be well prepared and abundant; the host must appear relaxed and good-natured.

Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the guests. Their needs - whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear, or acceptance - are the primary concern.

Hospitality can happen in a messy home. It can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup. It can even happen while the host and the guest are doing chores together. Don't hesitate to offer hospitality just because you are too tired, too busy, or not wealthy enough to entertain.  Love one another. Open your heart and your house.

Love 19

Love 18

Romans 10:15  NKJV 
" ....  As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 

Love 17

Love 16

Love 15

Love 14 Happy Valentine's Day from Jesus & Me

~ Jesus - God’s Valentine to You ~
    Until we meet in glory, these things I vow to you ...


I will  love you with an everlasting love
(Jer 31:3)

I will  never leave you or forsake you
(Heb 13:5)

I will  be pleased with your faith
(Heb 11:6)

I will  remain faithful, even if you are not 
(2 Tim 2:13)

I will  allow absolutely nothing to separate you from my love
(Rom 8:38)

I will  always be your refuge and shield in times of trouble 
(Ps 18:2)

I will  be your hiding place 
(Ps 32:7)

I will give you the desire of your heart as you delight in Me 
(Ps 37:4)

I will  be the strength of your heart forever 
(Ps 73:26)

I will  make your path straight as you acknowledge Me 
(Pr 3:6)

I will  give you rest for your soul  
(Matt 11:29)

I will  never condemn you 
(Rom 8:1)

I will  reveal myself to you 
(John 14:21)

I will  rejoice over you with gladness 
(Zep 3:17)



Anxiously waiting for you,     
      ~ Jesus ~

Love 13

Love 12

Tis' a Snowing Night

Nights' Snowy Forest

I feel wet snow
on my cold, dry skin
As the darkness falls
to settle in.

The stars shine bright
to lead my way
Through tall, snow covered trees
which bend and sway.

I know not where I came from
or where I will go,
while strange noises crunch
the new fallen snow.

I have no fears
of this strange, dark place
where sounds surround me
without a face.

The night goes on peacefully
dark and slow,
with all beauty shining
as a glistening glow.

I have been here before
though I know not when.
As sure as I know
I will be here again.

A place that is quiet,
safe comforting me,
while the icy brook flows
'round a sweet smelling tree.
 
I feel wet snow
on my warm, soft skin.
It is this dark place
that I want to be in.
 
Then I open my eyes
and it all floats away,
As bright warm sun shines
on a brand new day.

Window panes covered
in sparkling frost,
reminds me of a beautiful thing
I have lost.

My heart tells me in hours
this day will be past,
when the nighttime comes
to me slowly at last.

I am back in the snow
so pristine and clean.
Sadness shows me I've found
this was only a dream....

~Author Unknown~

Love 11

Psalm 73:26 NKJV
"My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"

Love 10

Love 9

Acts 17:24-28 NIV
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring"

Love 8

Love 7

So Much More ....

Isaiah 61:1  NIV 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"

The Bible teaches that Jesus came to heal our wounds, to bind up and heal our broken hearts, and to give us beauty instead of ashes and the oil of joy instead of mourning (see Isaiah 61:1-3).

Many Christians read this scripture and know that God wants to heal us from physical and spiritual sickness, but there's more to it than that. The truth is that our emotions are part of our makeup and they can become sick like any other part of us.

The world today is full of people who are suffering from emotional pain. The cause is often abuse, rejection, abandonment, betrayal, disappointment, judgment, criticism or other negative behavior by others. This emotional pain can be more devastating than physical pain because people feel that they have to hide it and pretend it isn't real.

If you have an emotional wound in your life, you need to know that Jesus wants to heal you. Don't make the mistake of thinking He is interested only in your spiritual and physical life. Take your wounds to Him. Jesus wants to heal you everywhere you hurt; everywhere you are broken. He loves every part of you!

Love 6

God;  Your Source of Approval

Psalm 46:11  NIV 
"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress". 

An epidemic of insecurity is stealing the joy of life from many people in our society today and causing major problems in their relationships. I know the effect insecurity can have on lives because I experienced it myself. I know what it does to a person.

Those who are insecure, often seek the approval of others to try to overcome their feelings of rejection and low self-esteem. They are approval addicts.

When we struggle with insecurity, only one thing will set us free, and that is God's truth. The truth is that we don't need to struggle to get from man what God freely gives us: love, acceptance, approval, security, worth and value.

He is our Refuge, our High Tower, our Strength, our Stronghold in times of trouble and our Hiding Place (see Psalm 9:9; 31:4; 32:7; 37:39; 46:11). Our worth, value, acceptance and approval come from Him. As long as we have those, we have the most valuable things in the world.

As you look to Him, you will be lifted to new levels of freedom, becoming the confident, mature person you were created to be.

Lord, we look to You for security. We focus on the truth - You are our refuge and strength. You give us love and acceptance. In You alone we are completely confident. We give our heartfelt thanks that our hope is in You and You alone. Amen!

Love 5

Love 4

Psalm 139:14  NIV 
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well"

Love 3

Love 2

Love 1