Stress Center Peer Support

I would love for us to exchange daily devotionals. I was blessed today with this one and would like to share it.
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** God has blessed me with these devotionals and I am daily grateful. The only thing I would like to add is that we must learn to love ourselves, and I think God will gives us this blessing when we ask. You all have a wonderful weekend and know you have love.
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March 6, 2008
Love Covers All

Mary Southerland



Today's truth:

But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4: 8-10

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Love is like that, its mere presence transforms the ugliness of life into a beautiful trophy of grace. Love covers the scars of sin. Love heals wounds and eases the pain of the past. We all need to be loved and we all need to love.



Jesus was and is the living illustration and certain fulfillment of His Father's love. The love of God is unconditional, unfailing and will stubbornly pursue us no matter where we go, what we do or don't do. God's love satisfies the deepest longings of our soul and enables us to love ourselves and others.



Friend, across your defeats spread the hope of a tiny baby lying in a manger! Across your pain, spread the unconditional love poured out on a cruel cross! Across your doubts and fears, spread the promise of an empty tomb! The love of God covers all and changes everything.



Celebrate Him! Celebrate His love!



Let's pray

God, I need Your love. My life is filled with scars and wounds that can be healed by Your love alone. I celebrate the love You so freely offer. I accept the gift of Your love and thank You for its transforming power in my heart. I love You, Father, and celebrate Your presence and power in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.



Now it's your turn

What past experiences in your life need the covering of God's healing love? Right now, make the decision to face and deal with these experiences in God's timing and God's way.



Why do we bury hurt and pain?
With what have you tried to "cover" the painful parts of your life?
Did it work? Why? Why not?

What does it really mean to allow God's love to cover the sin and pain in your life?
What is the first step or action that you need to take in the process of allowing God to heal the broken places?
How do you think this decision will affect your daily life?


More from the girls

Getting past our past is a crucial step toward living a victorious life. God cannot fill hearts and hands that still clutch the pain of the past. Let go! Walk straight ahead in the love and transforming power of God. And when the storms come...He will hold your hand.



* from-daily woman's devotional/crosswalk.com

This was great. I loved it!

I'll try one:

Each day we are to begin with God. Each breath we take is a powerful reminder that He has granted us another day of life to serve Him. Each heart beat is God's drumbeat of love, reminding us that we are blessed with another minute to offer him our best. This blessing is so easily forgotten. We best remember when we teach it, show it, and live it with and before our children.

It is encouraging to know there is a God who cares and knows all things. Even the deep things we feel and suffer through.

My "FAITH" is food for my soul/spirit. It is my #1 asset. I tell ya, GOD'S LOVE FOR ME HAS TAUGHT ME TO TRULY LOVE & ACCEPT MYSELF - a thing I learned(w/ his help of course ) during my own journey to recovery fr anxiety disorder.

I don't particularly get involved w/ the politics of religion & stuff- its too much drama & negativity. I would like to share w/ you all: I don't always phrase it in the FANCIEST WAY - & no, I am not a "seasonal believer" - but as a mature woman - a mature woman who has gone thru the very difficult process of recovery fr anxiety disorder - there is a very CALMING/POSITIVE/INNER PEACE IN ME - cause I know I GOT IT - I have him - I HAVE GOD INSIDE - if that makes sense this darn early in the morning, lol. I know it & God does too. As a result, whatever my life will entail & however it UNFOLDS - I have God on my side - pretty cool:)

Enjoy your weekend ladies & gents

LENORE

annette,
that was so beautiful and just what others need in their lives...
each morning when i wake up i THANK GOD FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP..and, i say a PRAYER for each of you and for those that are going through things in their lives...each night before bed y wife and i PRAY..we pray for all of you and your loved ones...those that do not know GOD nor want any part of HIM and, some who are running away from HIM like i used to do...
this draws us closer to HIM and, we can feel HIS PRESENCE,LOVE AND HIS ARMS AROUND US TO PROTECT US..GOD BLESS ....
don

What a wonderful way to start the day and such encourgement to me. I am in my second week and I was happy to see God in being praised.

Lenore

Across your doubts and fears, spread the promise of an empty tomb!

Absolutely!!! Thank you for sharing this. It's what I needed this morning!

you are very welcome, may
God be with us all

Making Time

Rachel Olsen



"But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."

John 15:7-8 (NIV)



Devotion:

How can I find time to have a "quiet time" with God? Even if I found the time, how do I know what to do during this time?

Ever ask yourself these questions? I have. There was a time when these questions left me speechless because I didn't know how to answer them. I knew people who would spend an hour alone with God each day, and I wondered what their secret was. What was it that enabled them to do that? What kept them from falling asleep sitting there alone with the Bible? How did they know what to say, read or think about during all those minutes? How did they keep from getting distracted? How did they even manage to find an hour of free time each day? I kept waiting for a season of my life to come during which a block of time would regularly present itself and my spirit would drive me to God. I wasted a lot of time waiting for that to happen and I've learned it never will without some effort.

"Rachel, how do you find time to have a quiet time?" I was asked not too long ago. "I don't find the time," I answered. "I have to make the time. I can't expect to find time -- that'll never happen. There's always going to be something needing my attention, calling my name. I have to make the time, and that means sometimes I have to let other things slide. I have to be OK with letting less important things slide," I confessed.

I've come to realize it's a matter of choice, a matter of discipline... and a matter of active investment. E.M. Bounds wrote, "The lazy man does not, will not, cannot pray, for prayer demands energy." What a simple but profound statement. When I don't pray or spend time reading the Bible, it's because I simply don't want to expend the energy on it. Bounds is saying that people who do not pray much probably claim to be too busy or too bored with it, but in reality are too lazy to press into God. Wow. Ouch!

I believe we have to be earnest in pressing into God and this will bring glory to God as today verse says. In the words of a little shoe company called Nike; we have to "just do it." Let's carve some time in our days to be quiet before the Lord, to read His words and pray. We can trade a small portion of our time and energy for a large portion of His grace and power.

Purpose to stick to it for several weeks until it sinks into your schedule, and your soul begins to respond. If you want some help being accountable on this, or some ideas for how to start, visit my blog listed below and we can do it together for the next six weeks. I know we'll find it is more than worth the effort.



Dear Lord, I want to make time for You. I want to read the Bible and understand it. I want to pray and see You answer. Help me to press in closer to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.