Saturated in Love
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Where God's love is there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear.
1 John 4:15
We fear rejection, so we follow the crowd. We fear no fitting in, so we take the drugs. For fear of standing out, we wear what everyone else wears. For fear of blending in, we wear what no one else wears. For fear of sleeping alone, we sleep with anyone. For fear of not being loved, we search for love in all the wrong places.
But God flushes those fears. Those saturated in God's love don't sell out to win the love of others. They don't even sell out to win the love of God.
Do you think you need to? Do you think, If I cuss less, pray more, drink less, study more... if I try harder, God will love me more? Sniff and smell Satan's stench behind those words. We all need improvement, but we don't need to wood God's love. We change because we already have God's love. God's perfect love.
Daily devotionals
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Guest
Snatched from Danger
Luann Prater
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
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Devotion:
“She’s choking!” Juli’s precious little girl could not catch her breath, so with stealth-like maneuvering Juli pulled her from the high chair, and retrieved the goldfish cracker that was lodged in her throat. For the first eleven months of life this child had only known gentleness from her mother, but today’s crisis called for swift, if not exactly gentle, action. Juli spent next 45 minutes consoling her quivering baby, all the while she trembled herself realizing how close she'd come to losing her.
Sometimes the Lord treats us the same way. He rescues us from certain danger and yet we see it as the most painful event of our lives! I look back on my life and see moments I deemed devastating, only to discover later they were actually life-giving.
Have you ever broken down and cried until there were no more tears? I have. Have you ever wondered why this tragedy is happening to you? I have. Have you ever questioned if God really cares about your circumstances? I have. Have you sat quivering like Juli or her little girl, wondering if you would ever see the sun shine in your life again? You are not alone.
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Dear Lord, help us to rely on You completely during the good times, but especially Father when we can’t see past our struggle. Teach us to be more like Paul who discovered that when we are weak, You are strong in us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Luann Prater
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devotion:
“She’s choking!” Juli’s precious little girl could not catch her breath, so with stealth-like maneuvering Juli pulled her from the high chair, and retrieved the goldfish cracker that was lodged in her throat. For the first eleven months of life this child had only known gentleness from her mother, but today’s crisis called for swift, if not exactly gentle, action. Juli spent next 45 minutes consoling her quivering baby, all the while she trembled herself realizing how close she'd come to losing her.
Sometimes the Lord treats us the same way. He rescues us from certain danger and yet we see it as the most painful event of our lives! I look back on my life and see moments I deemed devastating, only to discover later they were actually life-giving.
Have you ever broken down and cried until there were no more tears? I have. Have you ever wondered why this tragedy is happening to you? I have. Have you ever questioned if God really cares about your circumstances? I have. Have you sat quivering like Juli or her little girl, wondering if you would ever see the sun shine in your life again? You are not alone.
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Dear Lord, help us to rely on You completely during the good times, but especially Father when we can’t see past our struggle. Teach us to be more like Paul who discovered that when we are weak, You are strong in us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Guest
Hello, God. . .
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Hello, God. I called tonight
To talk a little while...
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.
You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own.
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.
Give me faith, Dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.
I thank you, God, for being home
And listening to my call;
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank-you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good-night, God. I love You, too.
And I'll call again tomorrow!
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<IMG SRC="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/ ... phone1.jpg"> </a>
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Hello, God. I called tonight
To talk a little while...
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.
You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own.
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.
Give me faith, Dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.
I thank you, God, for being home
And listening to my call;
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank-you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good-night, God. I love You, too.
And I'll call again tomorrow!
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Guest
<span class="ev_code_BLUE">I think we can also relate to this when we have such hi expectations of our selves and others. I pray I can expect less of myself and others also.</span>Prayer:
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Thoughts on today's verse
Why is it so hard to endure an unjust or unfair criticism? Why do we always have to defend ourselves no matter how ridiculous the charge? Often the problems we have with others simply escalate because we do not choose to forgive and let them go on in the Lord!
Precious and Holy God, help me more carefully guard my speech from things you despise, especially gossip, slander, and innuendo. Thank you. Through Jesus' grace. Amen
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Thoughts on today's verse
Why is it so hard to endure an unjust or unfair criticism? Why do we always have to defend ourselves no matter how ridiculous the charge? Often the problems we have with others simply escalate because we do not choose to forgive and let them go on in the Lord!
Precious and Holy God, help me more carefully guard my speech from things you despise, especially gossip, slander, and innuendo. Thank you. Through Jesus' grace. Amen
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Guest
Travel Light
“Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.”
I Peter 5:7
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God has a great race for you to run. Under his care you will go where you've never been and serve in ways you've never dreamed. But you have to drop some stuff. How can you share grace if you are full of guilt? How can you offer comfort if you are disheartened? How can you lift someone else’s load if your arms of full with your own?
For the sake of those you love, travel light.
For the sake of the God you serve, travel light.
For the sake of you own joy, travel light.
There are certain weights in life you simply cannot carry. Your Lord is asking you to set them down and trust him.
God, our father, walk through our house, and take away all our worries and illnesses: In Jesus' name. Amen
“Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.”
I Peter 5:7
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God has a great race for you to run. Under his care you will go where you've never been and serve in ways you've never dreamed. But you have to drop some stuff. How can you share grace if you are full of guilt? How can you offer comfort if you are disheartened? How can you lift someone else’s load if your arms of full with your own?
For the sake of those you love, travel light.
For the sake of the God you serve, travel light.
For the sake of you own joy, travel light.
There are certain weights in life you simply cannot carry. Your Lord is asking you to set them down and trust him.
God, our father, walk through our house, and take away all our worries and illnesses: In Jesus' name. Amen
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Guest
Why? Why? Why?
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"As long as one keeps searching, the answers come"...
-- Joan Baez
Asking ourselves 'why?' helps us delve deeply into our main motives -- why we do what we do. This process helps us go deeper into our reasoning, habits and unconscious beliefs. Once we become aware of our underlying motives, we can choose to change them, if we wish...
Regularly ask yourself, 'Why am I...?' Listen closely for the answer that surfaces in your mind, and write it down. Now look at your answer and ask why again. Continue with this process to reach the true source of your motivation...
"Men are more accountable for their motives, than for anything else"...
-- Archibald Alexander
~ The Inner Journey ~
Posted by: LINELLA BRECKENRIDGE
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<img src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/ ... 3.jpg"></a>
</center>
"As long as one keeps searching, the answers come"...
-- Joan Baez
Asking ourselves 'why?' helps us delve deeply into our main motives -- why we do what we do. This process helps us go deeper into our reasoning, habits and unconscious beliefs. Once we become aware of our underlying motives, we can choose to change them, if we wish...
Regularly ask yourself, 'Why am I...?' Listen closely for the answer that surfaces in your mind, and write it down. Now look at your answer and ask why again. Continue with this process to reach the true source of your motivation...
"Men are more accountable for their motives, than for anything else"...
-- Archibald Alexander
~ The Inner Journey ~
Posted by: LINELLA BRECKENRIDGE
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Guest
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My Goal
I do not live to reach the height
That many would call fame,
But pray that I may glorify
My Blessed Saviors name;
Each day to share the love he gives,
To be a beacon bright
Upon the path where others grope
Their way in troubled night.
Oh, how I pray for vision and
A song,when deep distress
Would overcome a troubled soul
Lost in the wilderness.
I pray to love, to reach, relieve
The ones who hunger for
The Bread of Life, the Fountain Pure,
As He waits to restore.
I pray that I could be that one
My Master would call "Friend",
Who serves his fellowman in love,
God's kingdom to extend.
Anna Lee Edwards McAlpin
<a href="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/ ... gs/121.gif" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/ ... 1.gif"></a>
</center>
My Goal
I do not live to reach the height
That many would call fame,
But pray that I may glorify
My Blessed Saviors name;
Each day to share the love he gives,
To be a beacon bright
Upon the path where others grope
Their way in troubled night.
Oh, how I pray for vision and
A song,when deep distress
Would overcome a troubled soul
Lost in the wilderness.
I pray to love, to reach, relieve
The ones who hunger for
The Bread of Life, the Fountain Pure,
As He waits to restore.
I pray that I could be that one
My Master would call "Friend",
Who serves his fellowman in love,
God's kingdom to extend.
Anna Lee Edwards McAlpin
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Guest
When Hopes Don’t Happen
Friday, June 27, 2008
“In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion.”
Psalm 27:5 NKJV
What do we do with our disappointments? We could do what Miss Haversham did. Remember her in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations? Jilted by her fiancee just prior to the wedding…she closed all the blinds in the house, stopped every clock, left the wedding cake on the table to gather cobwebs, and wore her wedding dress until it hung in yellow decay around her shrunken form. Her wounded heart consumed her life.
We can follow the same course.
Or we can follow the example of the apostle Paul. His goal was to be a missionary in Spain…however, God sent him to prison. Sitting in a Roman jail, Paul could have made the same choice as Miss Haversham, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “As long as I’m here, I might as well write a few letters.” Hence your Bible has the Epistles to Philemon, the Philippians, the Colossians, and the Ephesians.
Friday, June 27, 2008
“In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion.”
Psalm 27:5 NKJV
What do we do with our disappointments? We could do what Miss Haversham did. Remember her in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations? Jilted by her fiancee just prior to the wedding…she closed all the blinds in the house, stopped every clock, left the wedding cake on the table to gather cobwebs, and wore her wedding dress until it hung in yellow decay around her shrunken form. Her wounded heart consumed her life.
We can follow the same course.
Or we can follow the example of the apostle Paul. His goal was to be a missionary in Spain…however, God sent him to prison. Sitting in a Roman jail, Paul could have made the same choice as Miss Haversham, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “As long as I’m here, I might as well write a few letters.” Hence your Bible has the Epistles to Philemon, the Philippians, the Colossians, and the Ephesians.
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Guest
Hope, Always
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Never lose hope of God, however terrible and confusing the circumstances you find yourself in. Hope is the head of the road to confidence. If you do not walk along that road, at least guard with all your powers its entryway. Do not go on saying, "I have done twisted things"; choose the truthful way and no twistedness will remain...
Truth is like Moses' rod, and all twisted thoughts and actions are like the tricks of Pharaoh's magicians; when Truth arrives it swallows up all those games. If you have done evil, it is to yourself that you have done it; nothing in that evil could ever touch of darken the Eternal Face of God. Just commit yourself unwaveringly to truth and, slowly, all your twistedness will be burned away...
Hope is the source and spring of all the alchemies of transformation, the greatest treasure of the heart and mind, the philosopher's stone that transmutes agony and tragedy into new life. Never abandon hope, or you abandon your closest and most helpful guide, the Friend who will be at the door of paradise smiling as he lets you in...
From: Light upon Light, Inspirations from Rumi
Andrew Harvey, 1996
Posted by: LINELLA BRECKENRIDGE
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<img src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/ ... a86389.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
</center>
Never lose hope of God, however terrible and confusing the circumstances you find yourself in. Hope is the head of the road to confidence. If you do not walk along that road, at least guard with all your powers its entryway. Do not go on saying, "I have done twisted things"; choose the truthful way and no twistedness will remain...
Truth is like Moses' rod, and all twisted thoughts and actions are like the tricks of Pharaoh's magicians; when Truth arrives it swallows up all those games. If you have done evil, it is to yourself that you have done it; nothing in that evil could ever touch of darken the Eternal Face of God. Just commit yourself unwaveringly to truth and, slowly, all your twistedness will be burned away...
Hope is the source and spring of all the alchemies of transformation, the greatest treasure of the heart and mind, the philosopher's stone that transmutes agony and tragedy into new life. Never abandon hope, or you abandon your closest and most helpful guide, the Friend who will be at the door of paradise smiling as he lets you in...
From: Light upon Light, Inspirations from Rumi
Andrew Harvey, 1996
Posted by: LINELLA BRECKENRIDGE