Love….. tall order

1Timothy 1:5 "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

....16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. "  LOVE.❤️     Pure heart, good conscience, sincere faith and unlimited patience are some of the powerful gifts of Jesus.   Sometimes I think I love out of my own selfish ambitions.   This isn't love it's lust.   If I truly love someone I want what is best for them.  I will sacrifice myself so they can have what they need.   Today, I'm thinking of how Jesus did exactly that, for each of us, while we were yet sinners He died for us!  Today I hope to love the people in my life, with a pure, unselfish, patient heart.   I will pray that God fills me with His Holy Spirit so I can.   This type of Love is because of the powerful gift of Jesus, our humane condition can't do it on its own.   Be inspired to ask the Lord to help you love with a pure heart today and always!!!😇❤️🙏

Lonely, and your relationship?

 Proverbs 30:21 "Under three things the Earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: 22 a servant that becomes a king, a fool who is full of food, 23 an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress."  The unloved woman that is married,  stood out to me today.    I have been that woman.   It was the loneliest place I can remember.   I grew up with a mother that taught me my value was largely associated with the man I married.  She was born in 1942 and that was her belief.  I grew up desiring to be Cinderella or any other fairytale princess  meeting her Prince Charming and living happily ever after.   My illusion of this paradise has sometimes made me a bit, “boy crazy”.   I have found it is far better to be alone than to be tied to someone that doesn’t love me .  The TRUTH is we are never alone.   Jesus is with us always and Jesus always loves us!!   I much prefer being alone with Jesus than being lonely attached to someone I'm not connected with.    If you find yourself in a lonesome marriage good news is Jesus can fix that!!!  Jesus can change hearts  and make our relationships fulfilling.       I wish I could go back in time and have my mother teach me that my value comes from the powerful gift of Jesus but I can’t change yesterday. What I can do is know that now!!  I can enter into all relationships, knowing that I am valuable and too knowing the person I’m in a relationship with is extremely valuable as well and we are to love each other with a Christ centered love

What are you gazing at?

Matthew 6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?"

Matthew 6:32 " But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."   I can take my gaze off of Jesus, when I do I get stressed.    I look at something I want and focus on that more than I focus on having it if God allows.   When I gaze at the things God is saying NO to, it’s like my body being full of darkness.    Today I hope to keep my eyes upon Jesus and TRUST Him not my gaze.

Proverbs 28. Better open rebuke than a flattering tongue.

Proverbs 28:9. "If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

    even their prayers are detestable.....13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

    but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble....::::

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor

    rather than one who has a flattering tongue."   Some days I have a limited time for my Bible Study.  On those days I often read the Proverb associated with the date.      Today Proverb 28 is reminding me that my sin gets in the way of my prayers.     Sometimes I feel like God is ignoring my pleas.    He is not ignoring me He is waiting for me to get my heart right.   I can’t do that on my own.   I need His Holy Spirit and the help of brothers in sisters in Christ that won’t just flatter me but will give me open rebuke.    I hope this helps you today too.  Take a good look at what’s happening in your heart, are you embracing sin or are you embracing God?  I love the powerful gift of Jesus.  We can repent and start fresh every moment of every day!!  Then try try try again

From a place of victory

You are not fighting for victory, but from victory, for Jesus Christ has already defeated Satan!

Warren Wiersbe

Romans 8:37  “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”      I love this!!! We are not fighting for victory but from  victory.   The battle has already been won!!!   I can forget this.   I can feel overwhelmed and defeated.  I struggle with various sins I wish I could just be done with.   I don’t accomplish my  goals.    These failures don’t define me!    Jesus defines me!   Jesus defines you!! We are the righteous of Jesus Christ when we believe in upon Him.  I can approach my every challenge from a place of victory.    An example is in my battle with Alcohol.     I tell people, im a  non-drinker.    If someone offers me alcohol.  I will simply say something like, “ I don’t touch that stuff”.  I avoid drinking from a stance of victory.    I am not a slave to that!      Same can go for over eating, gossiping….. you name it.     We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.    Live in His victory today!!!

Call yourself a Christian yet walk in blatant sin?

1 Timothy1:12-13 " I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief."   These verses remind me of how our hearts are ok with our own sins while we are in ignorance and unbelief.   Sometimes I wonder how people can boldly claim to be a Christian and also un apologetically embrace various forms of sin.   Then I reflect on my own life.   I have always called myself a Christian.   I’ve been going to church since I was a child.    It was not until I started “seeking first the kingdom of God”,  that I started getting convicted of the sin in my life.   I was walking around in ignorance and unbelief.    Unbelief because even though, I thought of myself as a Christian, I sought after many things over reading the Bible and praying.   I sought alcohol, I sought immoral relationships, I sought the podium, I sought gluttony.  I sought ego and so many many worldly things in my ignorance I didn’t realize my sad state.   Now that I realize the depravity of my heart, I try,try try to seek after things of God    When I do the allure of the sins that used to ensnare me takes a back seat for my desire to conquer them through the powerful gift of Jesus.     Today, be inspired to live in the light, let go of ignorance and unbelief.     Embrace “ Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Peace be with you!

 John 20:21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me , I am sending you.  22 And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."      Peace be with you!!    We can share His peace when we are His peace.   Many things happen everyday that can disrupt my peace.   Often it’s my own poor behavior and sin that causes me anguish.    I have found that if I know what to do and don’t do it, I will be up doing something I shouldn’t do.        These types of behaviors can lead me to anxiety which is the opposite of peace in God.    Today, I pray for the perseverance to do what He calls me to do and not do the things I know not to do.    When I mess up, and I will.    I will repent and try, try, try again.   When I accept the forgiveness Jesus died to give me and start fresh with a clean slate, I am starting from a position of peace.     Extending forgiveness to others also helps me in that peace.😇🙏❤️ “ Peace be with you!”

If we can’t meet the mark why do we get so upset with others when they don’t meet the mark?

Sincere forgiveness for ourselves and others helps tremendously in our peace.