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“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
Take time today to think of the ways you have experienced the love of God. Here are a few suggestions: salvation, grace, mercy, blessings, provision, protection, His presence. God has a love for you that is unchanging and eternal. “Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLT As a child of God, there is nothing that can change the fact that God loves you. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLT God's “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT Allow the love of God to lift you up today...to encourage you...to bring joy to your heart. It truly is a love that lasts. Bro. Joe
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“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLT
May I suggest to you a to do list for today? ...be full of joy ...rejoice ...be considerate in all you do ...remember, the Lord is coming soon ...don't worry about anything ...pray about everything ...tell God what you need ...thank Him for all He has done ...experience God's peace ...let His peace guard your heart and mind ...live in Christ Jesus The choices are yours to make today. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT Something good to think about...something good to put into practice. Bro. Joe “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT
It's one thing to say that you love others, it's another thing to show it. “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:16-18 NLT We are called to love as Jesus loved us. Our love for one another is a testimony to the world that we are truly disciples of Jesus. We are to be the manifest love of God in the lives of others. “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” 1 John 4:9-12 NLT Who in your life needs to know that you love them...needs to know that God loves them? Show them today just how much God loves them by letting God love them through you. “We love each other because he loved us first.” 1 John 4:19 NLT Bro. Joe I remember as a child having those special places to hide. In my room, it was letting the covers hang over the side of my bunk bed and hiding in the lower bunk. At my grandmother's, it was a special closet under a staircase stocked with books and toys. These were special places that provided a sense of security, comfort and peace. As an adult I still feel the need to have that quiet place to go to...that hiding place.
Here is what I've discovered: “For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory...The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalms 32:7-8 NLT The Lord is my hiding place...a place of peace, security, protection and victory. We all need this kind of place. A place of retreat...refuge...renewal. Let me invite you in to my hiding place, a place where you can find direction, counsel and care. A place that feels like home. “Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” John 14:23 NLT Bro. Joe Paul writes to the church in Corinth saying “...Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT
What a wonderful challenge for us as well. ...to be joyful ...to grow to maturity ...to encourage one another ...to live in harmony ...to live in peace A few verses later Paul expresses a desire that I believe is the key to meeting this challenge. "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT Only through the grace of Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit can we truly find joy, maturity, encouragement, harmony and peace. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit - Grace, Love and Fellowship - What a great combination to have working in your life. There's help to meet today's challenges. Bro. Joe “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT
Who are you trusting in for today? It really is a daily decision to place our trust in the Lord. God promises that if you trust Him, you will find new strength...new strength to face the challenges and opportunities of the day. Don't feel like you've got it in you. Remember this..."He gives power to the weak and strength to to the powerless." Whether you soar, run, or walk, do it in the power of the Lord. Trust Him. Bro. Joe “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalms 91:1-4 NLT
Take time today to focus on three promises of God that have specific meaning in your life. The scripture says the faithful promises of God are your armor and protection. Wear them...walk in them...recognize their purpose...live them out today. These are mine: First, Jesus says "I am with you always..." Thank you Lord for the promise of your presence. Second, the Lord told Paul "my grace is all you need, my power works best in weakness." Thank you Lord for the promise of the sufficiency of your grace. Let your power work in and through me today. Let others see you and not me. Third, I choose to live in the shelter of the Most High and find rest in his shadow. Lord, I declare that you alone are my refuge...my place of safety...my God...I trust you and you alone. Thank you Lord for your precious promises. What three promises will be your focus today? Bro. Joe “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Psalms 73:23-26 NLT
Have you come to a personal awareness in your own life of what David is reflecting on through this passage? ...yet I still belong to you - as a child of God...no matter what comes...this never changes ...you hold my right hand - God's always close...touching...holding on ...you guide me with your counsel - he knows the best direction for your life ...leading me to a glorious destiny - he has a culminating purpose for your life Ask yourself..."Whom have I in heaven but you?" Will your heart declare to Him today?..."I desire you more than anything on earth." Are you not only willing to declare it but to live it out? "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Thank you Lord Jesus for being the strength of my heart. Bro. Joe In Mark's Gospel the story is told of four people who cared enough, and were willing to do what was necessary to carry a friend to the very presence of Jesus. “After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” Mark 2:1-5 MSG
Over the last week, I too was carried to the very presence of Jesus by many of you. It is because of the prayers of family and friends that I am here today. To simply say thank you seems so inadequate and insufficient. So, along with my gratitude for you, I offer to God a prayer of blessing over you. “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV I am truly a blessed man and am eternally grateful to have you in my life. “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy...And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:3-4, 6 NLT Blessings, to God be the Glory. Bro. Joe “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
As believers we... ...have the light of Jesus shining in our hearts ...contain this great treasure ...have a great power from God Understanding this gives us an enlightened perspective on the following statements by Jesus: “But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5 NLT “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 NLT Like never before, our world needs the light of Jesus Christ. As we walk in the light, we are walking in the very power of God. Let your light shine today. Bro. Joe |
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