Love

Quality Time: The Love Language Series (Part 1)

LOVE

James 4:8a – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

I was reading a devotional the other day by Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages series. In it, he spoke about how true quality time—when you are focused on your time with the other person with NO distractions—helps to build intimacy and bridge emotional distances. Good Advice!

I think the same is true of our relationship with God. Just like any other relationship in our lives, to grow and develop, it requires Quality Time—time in the Word, time in prayer, time in meditation, time praising and worshiping. As we devote this quality time to getting to know God and His character, being open about our dreams and fears and being emotionally and spiritually available to His response, we begin to draw closer to Him; we begin to hear His voice (literally and figuratively) more clearly; and we become more aware of His leading and guiding as we go about our daily lives.

God wants a more intimate relationship with us—once a week for two hours just won’t do! He wants to chat with us throughout the day (pray without ceasing—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18); He wants to share His thoughts and perspectives (read the Word daily—Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2); and He wants us to share His love with other people (fellowship—Thessalonians 5:11).

How are you feeding and fostering your relationship with God? Are you checking in with Him once a week for a couple of hours, or are you spending quality time with Him each day? Are you making Him a priority, or are you allowing the other demands and distractions of the day to take precedence? Instead of giving Him our leftover time, let’s try in the coming days to put our relationship with God first. Speak His love language—giving Him the quality time necessary for your relationship with Him to grow and flourish as we draw ever closer to Him.

Shine Your Light!

See Also:

Revelation 3:20 – “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Luke 10:41-42 – “’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

You Are Loved More Than You Know

Your First Love

LOVE

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

I have to say that I’m a little excited. For the first time in a long time, I am in a happy, healthy, stable relationship with a man that I love and who shows me every day that I am loved in return. It’s pretty amazing…love; and as I sit here this morning pondering the notion, I can’t help but think about my First Love…the One who taught me what it is to truly love and be loved, unconditionally, in return. I even brought out one of my favorite love letters that He wrote to me. In it, He tells me…

“I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Sigh…Isn’t He dreamy? 🙂 ❤

In all seriousness, I must admit that every single time that I read this verse it touches my heart and makes it swell. He…the Creator of the universe…LOVES flawed, imperfect, frustrating ME…with an EVERLASTING love… It will never end! His love is boundless! And the reality is that no other love on this earth will ever compare to the love that God has for each and every one of us…a love that is endless and impenetrable. NOTHING can get in its way…neither life nor death, height nor depth, nor anything in all creation can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).

And so…whether you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day today or not…whether you are single and searching, single and satisfied, in a dating/courting relationship, or a veteran spouse…whether you are contemplating love or just trying to ignore it altogether…take a moment today to celebrate your First Love…the God of all creation, who loves YOU beyond measure. You. Are. Loved.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Song: First Love by Kirk Franklin

Agape Love

LOVE

(I thought I’d re-post this one from 2014 in honor of Valentine’s Day)

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Reflections: Have you ever felt truly loved? I’m not talking about that fly by night, flash in the pan, fleeting love; I’m talking about everlasting, AGAPE LOVE, where you are seen and known and cherished unconditionally and beyond measure…the type of love that, in reality, you can only find in the heart of your Heavenly Father…

Our souls long for this love, our hearts yearn for this connection; but far too often…

We seek it in all the wrong places

In a sea of blank faces

In the company of false friends

Winding up at dead ends…

…And ultimately, we end up feeling unfulfilled, because THAT love—that soul-fulfilling, heart-wrenching, mind-blowing, never-ending love—is only available in one place: the arms of our almighty God.

As Valentine’s Day draws near, and we are surrounded by people consumed by the pursuit of love, know that you don’t have to look far to find it. You have only to look to the Father, who waits for you with open arms and an open heart to hold you close, take away your cares, and give you peace and love that surpasses anything you’ve ever known.

Happy (Almost) Valentine’s Day! (You are truly loved!)

Song: How He Loves Us by New Breed (Original)/How He Loves Us by Anthony Evans (Remake)

It May Not Seem Like Much, But It’s All He Ever Wanted

Giving Your All

LOVE

(Our theme for this month! ❤️😊)

1 Corinthians 2:9b – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

I read this passage the other morning, and it made my heart smile to think of the abundant life that God wants for us. He wants to give us so much, and all He asks for in return is our love. We’re not talking about that love that simply gives lip service to our relationship with God, we’re talking about truly LOVING Him—with your heart, mind, and soul. It seems like such a small request when compared to what He promises in return—blessings the likes of which we have never seen or heard, and of which our minds have never even conceived. This is what He has in store for us if we would only fully surrender our hearts to Him. He doesn’t promise that the road will always be easy once we surrender (in fact, Jesus assures us that we will experience troubles), but throughout it all, we know His promises; and we can be assured of the abundant, unimaginable blessings that wait for us on the other side of life’s valleys.

Above all else, as you move through life’s highs and lows, know that you are loved beyond measure; that you are never, ever alone; and that what God has in store for you is better than anything you’ve ever dreamed of!

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Rivers of Love

Love Thy Neighbor

LOVE
(Our Theme for the Month!)

Galatians 5:14 – “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

It seems so simple, the call to love your neighbor…to be kind and considerate, and to treat those you encounter as you would want to be treated. I find, though, that this is not something that comes naturally to everyone. Almost everyone and everything around us urges people to look out for themselves, please themselves, do what’s good for themselves…It’s so rare that we receive messages that convey this key command from God—Love your neighbor as yourself—to be selfless, sacrificing, and to consider someone else’s well-being above your own.

This decree becomes even more challenging to fulfill when we consider the fact that the “neighbor” to which God refers is not only your friend, your relative, or your loved one; but also your enemy, your adversary, the proverbial bane of your existence. Loving them as you love yourself?? THAT’S when things get really tough and really interesting. I think it’s important to note, here, that loving someone does not equate to serving as their proverbial punching bag. It doesn’t mean that you have to just sit there and accept unacceptable behavior. I think that God simply means that we are to show them the grace and mercy in their flawed state that God shows us daily in ours. In doing so, we begin to create spaces for change, for reconciliation, for redemption, and hopefully, for salvation.

So, in the end, the mission is clear—Love thy neighbor. Your love, your patience, your acceptance may be the very thing needed to bring about a miraculous and life-changing work in someone else’s life.

Song: Speak Life by Toby Mac
Song: Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shine Your Light!

(This was a billboard I saw while driving one day that made me smile as I paused in the middle of my road rage lol)