Love in Action

Human love can sometimes feel as it has come to an end, but God’s love endures forever (Psalm 107:1). Some couples that come to counseling express a lack of feelings (good ones at least) toward their spouse. After years of conflict, distance and tension, a thick wall is created. When they attempt to reach out to the other, they feel the cold, rough brick wall, concluding that there must be no more love to give. Their usual response is, “There is no use in staying married if there is no more love.”

It breaks my heart every single time I hear this. Yet, I’m aware that as a society we have twisted the true meaning of love. We use the word love for everything; I love your bag, I love my new pet, I love the new stove, etc… This kind of love is Conditional, Withholding, and Temporary. Now, the most commonly used Greek word translated “love” in the New Testament is “agape.” This is the Love God has for us – Unconditional, Sacrificial, and Never Ending. What a difference right?

Now, I’m not suggesting that we can ever reach to love the way God loves us, but we can definitely strive for it. My reply to couples is that love is a choice. Yes, you chose your spouse. You chose to make a vow to keep the marriage covenant. When you don’t feel like loving, God calls us to make the choice to love. He did. He loved us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He died for us when we despised Him (1 John 4:10). Choose to Love because God chose to love you.

As an action word, love is not passive, but ACTIVE. The famous passage we quote on love comes from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

^“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails.”

Is this how you love your significant other? Is this the way you love others? We all fall short don’t we? I know I do, just ask my husband.  (Ok don’t)… In this definition, love is not described as a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach. Or that it feels like butterflies. Or that it gives you chills. Instead, it gives us action words we can implement (practice) on a daily basis to help us get on that road to loving as God intended. Yes, I said on a daily basis, not only when you feel like it.

Because love is active, it requires sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His life for us. He gave ALL of himself for us. He did not care that we didn’t love Him the same. He took that risk for you, so won’t you take that risk for your marriage? If we claim to be followers of Christ and we don’t love, then we don’t love God. Why? Because God is love (1 John 4:8). Wow! Did that hit you?

If you truly don’t feel love for your spouse, begin to ask the Lord to give you His heart. Take the action step to live out this love defined in 1 Corinthians. Be patient with your husband, despite his sarcastic tone. Be kind to your wife, even if she doesn’t seem to notice the changes you’ve made. Keep persevering till the end. God is with you and will give you the strength and wisdom. Remember, Love Never Fails!!

Rest in His Word: Psalm 26:2-3

“² Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; ³ for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

• Take a journal and pray the above Psalm.
• Ask the Lord to examine your heart. Wait for his answer and write it down.
• What is God requiring of you in this broken relationship you are struggling with?
• Have you been actively practicing the action words given in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8? If not, what is stopping you?

Never Alone

In weakness and pain, we can sometimes feel that God has abandoned us. We believe we are left alone to defend ourselves from the monstrous events in our life. Then feeling defeated, we get deeper into our black hole… we’re resentful, angry and deeply wounded. Does this sound like you? Well, let me tell you what hope you have in Jesus.

As the darkness and fear creeps into your mind and heart, know that you are NEVER alone. The Lord is your Shepherd. Yes, he is constantly watching over you. He tends to your deep wounds and shines His light unto the murky path. If you are lacking trust and faith in Jesus, your Shepherd, I invite you to get to know Him. The following verses talk about His good intentions for you:

• Our Shepherd – “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11) And – “The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.”  (Psalm 23)
• Good Shepherd – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
• Great Shepherd – “Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood.” (Hebrews 13:20)
• Head Shepherd – “And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.” (1 Peter 5:4)

Jesus explains the difference between a good shepherd and a hired hand in John 10:12-14

¹² A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will leave the sheep because they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. ¹³ The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep. ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, He willingly lays his life for them. The sheep are his and he loves them”

Jesus knows His sheep. He knows you by name. He knows your likes, your dislikes, your secrets and innermost fears. And regardless of all your imperfections, He gave His life for you!

There is no greater love for one over the other. He loves them ALL the same. He loves the older sheep as well as the younger sheep. It doesn’t matter how long you have walked with the Lord, you will always need His care. We all need to be ready to hear his voice and run to Him for safety.

The good shepherd cares deeply about His sheep. In Isaiah 40:11 it tells us He tends to them. When the Lord lovingly attempts to care for your wounds, do you resist? Sometimes we run away due to our own fears, not wanting to feel the pain, we run away from God. Instead, He tells us in Matthew 11: 28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Take a step toward him. You say, “Well I have no strength. My problems are so overwhelming and consuming that I have no more energy to walk.” I have good news. This is where the Lord carries you through your trials. Just let Him pick you up. Don’t resist.

Aren’t you glad He is your Shepherd? I am.

Rest in His Word: Psalm 23: 1

“You, LORD, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.”

Heart Checkup:

• Has the Lord been your Shepherd or have you been led astray?
• Ask God to show you the ways He has been your Shepherd.
• Praise and give thanks to the Lord for always supplying your needs.

 

 

The Christian Work Out – Part 2

We have seen that in order to grow and be stretched, God calls us to work out our salvation. We are called to be ACTIVE! So let’s take a look and see how we can do this. 

Do Not Complain

Philippians 2:14 – “Do everything without complaining or arguing”

Here we see that the Philippians were complaining or arguing. How many times have you complaint about something you didn’t like at church or argued with a certain person? You may have not done this outwardly, but what about inwardly? When we complain, it is a sign of immaturity on our part. We do not understand or see the whole picture of God’s plan for our lives.

We are told to do EVERYTHING without complaining! This means what you do at home (clean, cook, etc.) what you do at work (your boss, co-workers), and what you do for church (ministries or simply showing up to church).

Why are we not to complain?

Philippians 2:15 – “So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

To Become Blameless & Pure – Here we are called to be blameless and pure. This doesn’t mean perfect – but Paul goes on to say, “Children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.” In short, we are to be different from those in a wicked world. That’s why Paul says “in which you shine like stars in the universe.” This means we are to be a light in this dark world.

Take a moment to look around you. Open the window and look into the sky. See God’s creation. See the shining stars – know that this is the way God wants you to shine… We cannot shine in this world without first examining our own hearts.

How can we make a difference in this world when we are not any different from unbelievers?  What makes us different? How is your light tonight? Are you next to someone else because of their light? Or Are you able to shine bright on your own? You may be saying, well how do I shine bright as the night star? I want to shine bright for Christ.    

Let’s keep reading…

Philippians 2:16 – “As you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”  

Hold Out the Word of Life – It is not about us – it’s all about God’s word being lived out in us and through us. If we truly hold on to God’s Word within us, then it will exude right out of us. You see, God’s word cleans us and purifies us – therefore, giving us the ability to go out into this depraved and wicked world and shine for Him. If we don’t have God’s Word, then how can we shine? Holding out the Word also means not being ashamed. We are to be bold and speak about God’s Word to those in this world. Are you holding out the Word of Life?

I leave you with the following. In order for us to Work Out our Christian Walk and Shine as Stars, we must:

1. KNOW God personally
2. EXPERIENCE God in our life
3. HUMBLE ourselves as Christ did
4. OBEY God as Christ obeyed
5. FULFILL the personal plan that God has for our life

Rest in His Word: Proverbs 24:33-34

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”

Heart Checkup:

• Have I been slumbering with the things of God?
• Have I given myself too much time to rest? Or have I consumed my life with too much to do that I have neglected my time with God?
• Am I obeying God or have I been following my own agenda?

The Christian Workout – Part 1

“God help me get out of this rut!” “Why do I feel so far away from you?” “Why am I not growing?” Have you ever cried out to God or asked any of these questions? It seems to me that sometimes we wait around for God to help us get out of our spiritual dryness. We call unto God, yet we fail to understand that we also play an important part in the spiritual growth process.

In the book of Philippians, Paul is very honest about our salvation and what we need to do in order to grow. Let’s take a look.

God Calls Us to Workout

Philippians 2:12 – “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Paul reminds us of the duty of Working OUT our salvation – Not working FOR our salvation. He’s talking about the Christian Workout. Let’s keep it simple here. If you workout at the Gym what are you doing? You have a goal in mind right? You either want to lose weight, build muscle or simply be healthy. It’s the same with the Christian Workout. Your goal is to GROW in Christ – to exercise what He has given you.

There is no doubt that we are saved once we accept Christ, but it is in the grind of everyday life that we are to put this salvation to work or to put it into practice. This is why Paul says to continue working out your Salvation. It’s a process of continual growth. I believe that he is trying to tell us that we should continually strive to work out in the best form possible. It’s about giving it your all – because you are doing it for Christ.

There’s an emphasis on YOUR salvation in Fear & Trembling. Salvation is something personal that nobody else can do for you. It is God given, but some believers depend on others for their salvation. They don’t exercise their Christian walk. They depend on others to feed them God’s Word, to pray for their needs, or to go out to the community and show God’s love. Fear and trembling pulls us to TRUST God with all we have.

We use the term “Christian Walk” very often. Here, I mean as a form of daily exercise and application of what God is doing in our lives. If we don’t exercise our Christian walk, we forget what Christ has done for us on the cross and we can become conformed to the world around us – we become comfortable with our salvation, which results in believers who are slackers or better yet LAZY Christians who don’t workout.

God Works In You

Philippians 2:13 – “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Know that you are not doing this alone. The only way this Christian Workout can be realized is by God’s Power. The verb WORKS means “energizes” or “provides enablement.” God enables us. I see this as a partnership. God is our partner in this. We have a part and God has His part. 

What is our part? – To Be WILLING to ACT

What’s God’s part? – Makes us ABLE

It’s not that God does one part and we the other. God does it all, and we do it all. He is the author and we are the actors. See, God can give you the Desire to obey Him and the Power to do what is pleasing to Him, but you must be Willing to Act on it. What is God’s good purpose? Ephesians 1:5 tells us that “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

Did you get that? God’s good purpose for your life is to be His child! He wants to have a relationship with you. In fact, this relationship calls for us to work together with God. Because God’s plan is for ALL to be saved. That’s why He gave His only Son to die on the Cross – for the World’s sins. So, it’s not just enough for us to be willing, but we must also ACT – Act what God has called us to do, which is The Great Commission in Matthew 28; “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

 God calls us to be Active NOT Inactive!

Stay tuned for part 2, where we will discuss how to be ACTIVE.

Rest in His Word: 1 Peter 2: 2

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

Heart Checkup:

• How long have I been drinking milk?
• Is it time for me to begin eating of the good foods God has provided?
• What am I doing to grow in my relationship with God?
• What spiritual disciplines am I engaging in to help me in this process?

FaceHooked

Back in June, I deactivated my Facebook account. Leaving Facebook was somewhat liberating and a true test of my ability to stay in touch with those I really care about. The results – I failed miserably! It is so hard these days to stay in touch with others. I am so not a phone person and most of my family is out of the country. It would be very expensive and I would rather see them face to face.

On the other hand, I succeeded at sending cards through mail. Yes, old fashion mail with a stamp. Remember those? It was very rewarding, but this requires more time and energy (and almost half a dollar for your stamp). Interestingly, I found that when I had ink and pen, I thought twice about what I was going to say and my heart opened up so much more.

During this time off of Facebook, I realized that many of us have lost touch with taking time to savor loving actions. Actions where we can show others how much we care for them by sending them a card, making time to sit with them, face-to-face, to simply talk or calling someone on the phone to give them words of encouragement.

I also thought about my reasons for staying on Facebook. Sometimes, we can get so self consumed that we make it more about ourselves than on simply being connected to those we love. Let’s be honest, we get hooked into posting comments about what’s going on with ourselves or we are so curious to know what’s going on in the lives of others. We get FaceHooked! It can be addicting to the point where we are constantly posting where we are, what we are doing, who we are with or where we are checking in.

Another issue is what we post. Too many of my “friends” were posting negative comments that I quite honestly don’t care for. Here’s the thing, communication is 97% non verbal. Meaning, we communicate with body language. How can others truly know what we are trying to say if they can’t see us or hear our tone of voice? You see, things get lost in translation. It’s happened several times where I send a message and the recipient distorts things – that’s where we get in trouble.

So, next time you post a comment on Facebook, remember how others will be translating your message. Being honest about what’s going on in your life is great, but sometimes we spill too much in order to get attention. Be careful little lips what you say! Proverbs 13:3 says, “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” (NIV)

Let’s use these technological advances to stay connected, support, encourage and lift others. I hope this gets you thinking twice about what you will post on your Facebook wall, reevaluate who your “friends” truly are and what you decide to disclose about your personal life. Remember, God wants us to stay connected to truly understand how to love one another.

Rest in His Word: Proverbs 14:15
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”

Heart Checkup:

• What are your true intentions and motives in engaging on Facebook?
• Am I lifting, encouraging others or am I using this tool to destroy myself or others?
• Have I been giving this tool more time than the Word of God?

The Serving Cow

Are you finding yourself tired and weary? Has your complaining voice taken over your joyous song? Do you find yourself judging others for what they don’t do or how they do things? I myself, have been feeling frustrated about my leadership abilities for the past couple weeks. The Lord brought me back to a devotional I wrote last year, which reminded me that I need to re-focus on what’s important; my faithfulness to God alone.

Read: 1 Samuel 6:1-16

Here’s a little bit of history – Israel had been ruled by judges for over 200 years. Eli and Samuel are the last of the judges. This was a time when the Israelites were far from God; sin had entered their hearts. Even Eli’s two sons (Hophni and Phinehas), in line for the priesthood, were wicked in the eyes of the Lord.

In our text, the Philistines attack the Israelites, overthrow them with a terrible slaughter (killing over 30,000 men). They take the ark of the Lord and set it up in the temple of their god Dagon. They keep the ark of the Lord for 7 months until they were visited with God’s judgments (plagues), which forced them to send the ark back with a guilt offering. Although they acknowledged they had offended God, something in them still didn’t believe it was God who sent the plagues. Could it have been plain coincidence?

All of us are called for a purpose. Somewhere along the way, we can lose touch of the love and passion we have of serving. Next time you find yourself in that position, remember this story and ask the Lord to help you examine your heart.

There are four key points I would like to point out to you. My desire is that as you meditate on these points, you are redirected to your Source (God alone).  

1.      Check the Condition of Your Heart

Sometimes, we can get to the point of becoming resentful and bitter to do the things of God. Yeah, we do them, but we do them half-hearted. We need a new heart to give our best to God.

I find it interesting that the Philistines used a new cart to send the ark of the Lord back to the Israelites. This should be an example to us that when we worship God – anything we do – we are to offer it solely to the service of God. Do it for His Glory. We are to give our very best to God, not what’s left over.

Many times, we put other things before God (family, our job, activities, etc.) and we find ourselves too tired to approach God. If we do, we are giving him our left over crumbs! Check the condition of your heart today. Ask God to reveal your true intentions of why you do what you do.

2.      Take Action

Now, notice that they send two cows that had just given birth to calves and had never been yoked to return the ark of the Lord. I don’t know much about cows, but I do know that their instinct is to stay with their calves and take care of them as a mother would. These were busy cows. I’m sure they preferred to stay with their calves to take care of them.

All of us lead busy lives, but these cows became available to do God’s work. Many of us have an array of excuses as to why we cannot serve in the ministry: I’m too far from church, my kids… my husband… I don’t have the time, etc… Okay, I’m going to say it straight up; we are all busy! You are not the exception. But is God too busy for you? Think about that next time you find yourself tired and your heart has grown cold for the things of God.

These cows were aware of what they were carrying – they didn’t take their job lightly. Are you available to carry His precious cargo? – The Good News (that Jesus, His only son, died for humanity’s sin). You see, God will use those who are willing to be used. Now, if God used these two cows to carry His most precious cargo (the ark of the Lord), how much more can he use us to show His love to those in need.

3.      Focus on God

We read that the cows indeed went straight to Beth Shemesh. They did not turn to the right or to the left! God supernaturally influenced or led the cows to their final destination. Although we have trials and troubles, we must keep our focus on God – not swerving to any side, but focusing our eyes on Jesus. God will give us the strength to continue onto the path that He has set before us. He will give us the vision of where we need to go.

You see, when our hearts are centered on God, it doesn’t matter what others say, what others do or don’t do because you know who you serve; God alone! It’s not about you my friend – it’s all about Him! So next time you feel frustrated, you may have to re-focus your heart toward Jesus.

4.      Praise Him All the Way!

It also says that the cows were lowing all the way. I don’t know if the cows were Protesting saying, “But God my children are left alone, I must be with them” or if the cows were Praising God along the way saying, “Thank you Lord for choosing me to carry the ark, what a privilege.”

I’m going to say that these cows praised all the way. The question for you is… Which type of cow are you? The type that Protests and complains to God because of all the things that need to get done – OR the one that Praises God for the opportunity given to serve Him. Choose to Praise God as you serve Him and he will manifest Himself in your life. Then, when you serve the Lord Faithfully, God’s power becomes visible to the world and His name will be glorified.

Let’s not be whiny cows. Instead, may we be:

• Ready to Hear His Voice
• Be Led by His Spirit
• Proceed with all His Power

Rest in His Word: 1 Corinthians 4: 1-2

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

• How have I been unfaithful to God?
• What can I do today to show God my faithfulness to Him?

Let it Roll!

Trust is a difficult concept for many. After all, others fail us. Our expectations are not met. We don’t seem to believe we measure up to God’s standards. So, it’s easier to put up walls that appear to guard and protect us. In reality, these walls keep us from seeing things the way God sees, which is the truth. We can also become so consumed by the problem before us, that we miss out on God’s blessing in our lives.

Let’s begin by examining a word we often use, but take the meaning for granted – commit.

The word commit is defined: (1) to put in trust or charge; entrust, (2) to carry into action deliberately (purposeful), and (3) to pledge (state of being given) or engage oneself.

Now, the Hebrew word for commit is ‘Galal’ which literally means to “Roll” – as though getting rid of a burden. When we roll an object on a smooth surface, it will roll away and the only way it comes back is if it is retrieved – if we walk to it and pick it up.

We see the word commit used in Joshua 5:9, “Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.” Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word to roll (Galal). In Hebrew, lg gal signifies to roll; and the doubling of the root, lglg galgal or Gilgal, signifies rolling round and round, or rolling off or away.

Why do I bother with this information? During Joshua’s time, the Israelites left Egypt, all the males were circumcised, but after wandering in the wilderness for 40 yrs, the new generation, who would enter the Promised Land, had not been circumcised. This was a problem as they were about to celebrate the Passover, which required all males to be circumcised; for without this they could not be considered within the covenant, and could not keep the Passover (the seal of that covenant). From this time Gilgal became a place of considerable importance in the sacred history of the Israelites. Here is why:

• They camped and rested the first night of their entering into the Promised Land.
• Joshua circumcised all the people who had been born in the wilderness.
• It was the place in which Joshua had his fortified camp, and to which he and his army constantly returned after each of their expeditions against the inhabitants of the land.
• It appears to have been the place where all the women, children, cattle, and goods, etc., were lodged, probably during the whole of the Canaanite war.
• They celebrated the first Passover they kept in the Promised Land.
• There the manna ceased to fall.
• There the ark was fixed till, after the conquest of the country, it was removed to Shiloh.

This place, Gilgal, was a very important and significant place. To me, it signifies a Turning Point in the lives of the new Israelite generation. Today, I want to invite you to “Roll” your life to God – trust him with your present and future. Let’s see how we can do that…

1. Commit Your Way – Psalm 37:5-6 (NASB)

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.” (my emphasis)

Commit Your Way: What does “your way” mean? The travel or course of our life – Our ACTIONS! It’s also our way of being or character – Our BEHAVIORS and INTENTIONS!

Trust in Him – How can we trust? We can begin to trust when we know God’s character. Get to know who He is, what He has done. It makes it easier to trust in someone you know and have a relationship with.

Take the Promise – He will do it. Do what? He will make sure that your righteousness will be known. He will bring the truth to light. No need to defend yourself – he is Judge!

Remember – When we are going through tough times, it helps to remember what God has done for us in the past and keep it in our heart and mind. When trouble comes, remind your soul of what God has done because He will continue being there for you. We change, but God does not change. You are entrusting your life to a God who is all powerful, all knowing. He knows you more than anyone else, even yourself. He knows what is best for you. He tells you, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” Joshua 1:5 (NLT)

This psalm encourages us to “roll” our WAY – how we conduct our lives and the concerns we have for what happens in our lives upon the Lord.

2. Commit Your Works – Proverbs 16:3 (NASB)

“Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.” (my emphasis)

Commit Your Works – Here, the way or course of our lives is not the focus. Instead, it’s the deeds that we do. Works: activities in which we exert energy, performance, what we produce!

When we commit or “roll” our works to the Lord, we are acknowledging that our ways (intentions) are not the best, but that His are. So, it’s saying to God that He knows what’s best – that we leave the outcome of our labor to Him. When we do this, we are trusting that our efforts to produce in this life, whether others appreciate it or even notice at all, are pleasing to Him.

Please God – See, it’s not about what others think – it’s about what is pleasing to God. We can get so caught up in what others are going to say, that we end up not doing anything at all. When we please God, our plans will succeed! When we include God in our plans, we can be confident and have peace of mind that God is with us. See, God tells us “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11

This psalm encourages us to “roll” our WORKS – how we produce in our daily lives for God’s pleasure upon the Lord with assurance that we will succeed.

3. Commit Yourself Wholly – Psalm 22:8 (NASB)

“Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”  

Commit Yourself Entirely: Don’t give God only parts of you – Give God your all! Meaning all of your entire mind, body and spirit! Nobody else can help you commit or “roll” your entire life to God.

Realize You Need God – Without God, nothing has meaning. Our greatest example of a meaningful life and death is Jesus. Matthew 27:43 says, “HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” These words were uttered at Jesus as he was being crucified. They knew that Jesus TRUSTED in God. It was evident in the way Jesus lived and by his actions as he was beaten and despised. Do you trust God with your entire life? Jesus committed all his ways, his works and his entire life to His Father! God was faithful to Jesus – He will do the same for you.

This psalm encourages us to “roll” ourselves WHOLLY – giving of ourselves entirely to God who delights in our trust in Him.

Rest in His Word: Psalm 25:4-5

“Lord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior. I trust you all day long.” (NCV)

Heart Checkup:

• What are in my life can I begin to commit (roll) to God?
• Have I trusted God with my ways, works and myself? If not, what steps can I take today to begin the process of trust?

Called to Live a Legacy of Love

“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

– Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)

Our culture defines love as a warm, fuzzy feeling. When I don’t feel anything, I must not be in love. I must feel you love me – If I don’t feel you love me then love must have ended. Now, if I don’t love you, then I should move on to the next person who will make me feel warm and fuzzy again. Society’s love is selfish, self centered – all about the self. Society’s love is about taking it all; what can you give me and how much?

God’s definition of love is completely the opposite. Here is God’s perspective on love (I have paraphrased):

God, what is love?

• I am love. Whoever does not live does not know me, because I am love. – 1 John 4:8

God, how do you show me love?

• I sent my one and only Son, Jesus, into the world that you might live through him. – 1 John 4:9

God, am I really capable of showing love to others?

• Yes, because I first loved you. – 1 John 4:19

God, why should I love?

• Since I loved you, you ought to love others. I’m not asking you to love others only when you feel love towards them. I’m asking you to choose to love them. No one has ever seen me; but if you love one another, I live in you and my love is made complete in you. – 1 John 4:11-12

As we have seen, God isn’t driven by his feelings. He shows his love through His ACTIONS; by sending his only one and only son to die on the cross for our sins. That is true love! Aren’t you excited to hear that God chose to love you and me?

Love is not passive, it’s active! If love is an Action word, what will that look like? One of the most quoted verses on love shows us the actions behind loving. Take a look:

“⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-13 (NIV)

God gave us this model to give us an idea of what it takes to love others. As we mentioned, love is not just a good feeling, but a choice and a command from God (Mark 12:31). Are your choices pointing to God? If they are not, it’s not too late to begin applying these actions in your life.

Love is a choice! Colossians 3:12-14 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

God calls us to Put on Love! This means, we consciously have to make the choice on a daily basis to love others with the same love that God has for us – unconditional love. When we get ready every morning, we usually check ourselves in the mirror before heading out the door. Don’t forget to check your love wardrobe as you head out. Put on love daily. Don’t leave home without it!

Rest in His Word: Ephesians 4:2

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.“

Heart Checkup:

• Have I embraced God’s love in my life?
• Am I showing the action characteristics mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13?
• What steps can I take today to change my love wardrobe?

Called to Live a Legacy

“We all leave footprints in the sand, the question is, will we be a big heal, or a great soul.” — Anonymous

You were called to live a legacy! Do you believe that? Or do you find yourself living day by day without any purpose or meaning? Many times when we think of the word legacy, we imagine an old person on a rocking chair surrounded by grandchildren, giving of their wisdom and knowledge from their life’s experience. Our minds automatically tell us that we have a long way to go before we begin to think about what kind of legacy we are leaving. Our society calls us to live hectic and busy lives that little time is left to think about the impact our current actions are having on those around us.  

God calls us to a different kind of life; one with purpose, meaning and intention – a legacy. He doesn’t want you just to leave it behind, but to live it on a daily basis. We are called to be intentional about what we do and to influence those around us. We don’t have to wait till we’re old, or wait till we are wiser and more experienced; we can begin to cultivate lasting seeds found in God’s word today to make a lasting difference in eternity.

The law that God has set here on earth is that we reap what we sow; “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV) This simply tells us that where we spend most of our time and energy is where we will see results. These fruits or results can be constructive (meaningful, life changing and influential) or they can be destructive (poisonous or life threatening). You have the power to choose what kinds of seeds of legacy you want to leave behind.

I will use the word LEGACY as an acronym to help us remember the seeds (characteristics) that we can begin planting and cultivating today in order to live a life of legacy.

• Love – Ephesians 5:2
• Encouragement — Hebrews 3:13
• Generosity — Proverbs 11:24
• Action — Jeremiah 1:17
• Courage — Joshua 1:9
• Yielding to the High King! — Psalm 46:10

What will you choose today? Are you going to wait until you find yourself taking your last breath to begin thinking about the legacy that God has called you to live? You are a Woman and Man of Legacy! You were created, called and chosen to live a life of legacy. Not just to LEAVE a legacy, but to LIVE a legacy. Those are two very different choices. The first is an afterthought, but the latter is intentional. God has called us His workmanship, “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  (Ephesians 2:10) So, begin walking with confidence knowing that God has equipped you with all you need. He will continue to shape and mold you – all you have to do is let go of your fears of failure and begin embracing your life.

Do you want to discover what God’s word has to say about your legacy? Then join me on this journey as we diligently seek the Lord on how to begin planting and cultivating these seeds of LEGACY into our lives. Stay tuned for the next devotional on the first word of the acronym – Love.

Rest in His Word: Colossians 3:12-14

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

• What kind I do today to begin being more intentional about my legacy?
• What will others say about me if I were gone?
• What specific calling has God placed in my heart to live out? What’s been holding me back from pursuing that calling?

The Voice Within

When I ask others to write about a life experience or a devotional to share with others, I get a blank stare as if I’ve asked them to jump off a building. It’s as if they’re in shock and become paralyzed. Some of the responses are the following: “I don’t know what to say,” “I’m not a good writer,” or “Nobody will want to read what I have to say.”

These statements are all false beliefs of ourselves, which we accept as truths. There are 365 days in a year and out of those days there’s gotta be something that you learned which can benefit and bless others. We all have something to say, something to express, and we all have a story to tell. Your voice matters.

Some individuals are walking around in fear unable to share their thoughts and feelings for fear of rejection or disappointment. Some have learned since childhood that their feelings are not valid, therefore, they shutdown emotionally from the world and miss out on having deep connections with others.   

Are you walking around believing in the Goliaths around you, instead of believing what God has to say about you? Don’t believe the lies that you can’t do it, that you are not good enough, that you are not loved, that you will never amount to anything or that you are a failure. God loves you and believes in your potential. He created you for a purpose – and that is to Glorify Him.

Sometimes the biggest Goliath is your own mind! Ruminating on negatives thoughts, worries and holding onto the; should haves, could haves, and would haves of life drain you and don’t let you move into the future. The Lord wants you to have a life in abundance, looking ahead into the promised land vs. a life of redundance, focused on past hurts and sense of failure.

Find the voice within you… what does God have to say about your life? What is it that you would like to share with others? Believe in God’s word and the truth that you are His Child! Loved beyond measure! The apple of His eye! If He is calling out to you, won’t you listen to the Voice of Truth? Casting Crowns says it beautifully:

“But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says ‘do not be afraid!’
and the Voice of truth says ‘this is for My glory’
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth”

Rest in His Word: Psalm 33:4

“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

• What Goliaths am I facing today?
• What lies have I believed about who I am?
• What truths does God say about me in His word?