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Immeasurably More Love by Sonya

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“Through Christ may you know the love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”Ephesians 3:19-21​

This Christmas season I want you to take these verses to heart and believe them. These verses really help to understand Christ’s love for us, and how deep God’s love is for us, to have His son born on Christmas to show us that. There is nothing we can do or say that will keep us from Christ’s love or make Him loves us more no matter what. Knowing Christ’s love for each of us will help you understand how Great God’s love is and it is so much greater than what we could ever imagine. This can be hard to comprehend, and I am in that season where it is difficult to think how God can love us so much just as we are. I mess up all the time and have a hard time loving myself and so my vision is blurred from how God sees me.  But when I look through God’s lens, and He tells me I am His daughter, His masterpiece, and His love is unconditional, I see that nothing I do or say will make Him view me any differently. Wow, that is mind blowing and as humans we have a hard time understanding that. Our flesh gets in the way of truly believing how much God loves us. ​

Understand God’s love through His Son this Christmas by realizing God loves us first and He loves you more than anyone else. Also God’s love is eternal and will last forever and His love is unconditional no matter what you do. Lastly His love is immeasurable.  We can’t ever put into words or describe the love He has for us because it is so remarkable. So remarkable in a way that God sent Christ to come to earth on Christmas, so He could die for us and that we could have everlasting life with Him. How amazing is this and I want to understand that kind of love this Christmas. Who is with me? Our identity needs to be rooted in Christ and fully understanding His love will set us free. Are we ready to receive the greatest Christmas gift? God’s love is immeasurably more than what we could ask for with no strings attached. ​

“I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore continued my faithfulness to you.”Jeremiah 31:3​

Now that you receive the love, go out and spread His love to those around you and let the Christmas spirit spread everywhere you go! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Photo Credit: Free Pik

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This Is 40 by Bombi

Recently I celebrated a life milestone, I turned 40. From the moment I turned 39 I began to spend most every day in reflection of my life. I was taking inventory of my life and thinking on all of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. When I was younger, there were so many things I thought I knew about people, faith, or just life in general. I came to find that I knew so little, I’m still learning. What struck me was how sure I was about everything when I first became an adult. I was sure that I would be safe at all times in all situations. I was sure of who my friends were and would always be. I was sure that my family would all stay the same people. I was sure about so much. Little did I know how unsure life would be. How many funerals I’d attend, how many friends I’d never see again. There were years that I was sure I would never really laugh or smile again. Times in life that I thought that I would never find true love. So many ups and downs, so, so many of them.

I guess I’m at the so called “mid-point” or “middle” in life. If there’s anything I can say for sure it’s this, nearly everything and everyone changes. Jobs will come and go. Your pant size will fluctuate. Fashion, music, and celebrities will change throughout the times. Gas prices will fluctuate and more than likely go up. Presidents and political agendas will come and go. Homes and the place you call home will more than likely change.  Children will grow up and change, parents will too. Your life perspectives will change. The ones you considered friends and circles of friends will come and go as well. Everything and everyone will more than likely change in one way shape or form. Everyone except for one, Jesus. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 31:6 that, “he will never leave you nor forsake you.” There are so many promises that we have in Jesus and what’s awesome is that they will and do come to pass. I am so blessed to have Him in my life, I couldn’t imagine a moment without Him. He’ll never betray me, gossip about me, trick me, leave me, He’ll never do any of that. He’ll never stop being my friend. All He does and will keep on doing is being who He is. I praise Him forever for that. I pray that I can live out the second half of my life through Him in a greater way than I have up to this point. Maybe one day, when I’m fully grown, I can be more like Him.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)

Photo Credit: FreePik

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First Things First by Trish

It’s that time of year where most people are in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. The focus has shifted to doing whatever necessary to making the season so perfect. Many are evaluating what was accomplished (or not accomplished) during the past year while simultaneously making new goals for the new year.

It’s so important for us to discern which season of life we’re in and not be disappointed if it’s not the season you’d like it to be. Different seasons demand different or specific seeds to be sown and each brings about its own harvest. If we’re not careful we’ll begrudgingly “endure” the season, instead of thriving in whatever state we’re in.

In whatever season or state, we must keep our priorities in check. Is our relationship with God thriving? Is our home life peaceful and growing in love? Are we being good stewards of the finances God has trusted us with? Just those three things alone can cause a train wreck if we’re not prioritizing correctly. I myself will lift both hands in the air for not managing any one of those three things well on multiple occasions.  Yet we still have the responsibility to come back to our core values and honor what we know to be priority.

Maybe it means setting a boundary in gift giving so that you’re not in debt financially. Perhaps it looks like going to bed earlier so you have time for yourself in the morning before the kids wake up, or even saying “no” to the church potluck so you’re not overwhelmed in the kitchen to present the perfect dish, when you could be spending time with your family.

I’m learning that when I keep first things first, I feel more at peace.  Then when life throws a curveball I can recover faster and push through if there is strength in the areas I’ve nurtured all along, be it with my walk with God or family.

My priorities may not look like yours and that’s okay. Determine what’s important to you and don’t get distracted by anything not helping you grow, learn, advance and become who you were meant to be all along. Remember, first things first, everything else can wait.

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Reckless Love by Kenika

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you own a radio, television, computer or even just a phone, you have probably heard the 2018 GMA Dove Award winning “Song of the Year” “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury.  It’s a Sunday morning staple all around the country and undeniably the world.  We belt out, at the top of our lungs, with no shame, the lyrics that speak to how God will stop at nothing to pursue us with His love.  It’s “overwhelming, never-ending, and reckless,” just to name a few words from the lyrics.  It breaks down every barrier and cuts through every obstacle just to pursue closeness with us.  We all get that tingly feeling in our hearts and spirits when we take a moment to let that sink in, and it touches a lot of us in our relationships with Jesus.  The thought that no matter what I do, or what attempts to be done to me, He’ll leave the “99” just to come after one, and that one is me.

The idea of the reckless love of God is very real to me, but through a conversation with a co-worker I came to understand it on an even deeper level.  She was telling me of her background and growing up in a different religion than Christianity. Throughout her lifetime she was very hurt by this organization and, as an adult, had sworn off all religion.  She was determined to never be involved with any god.  Then she met two friends.  One of them gently, and nicely invited her to church regularly during various activities they did together.  Then, another friend came in with a little stronger approach, letting her know that she needed to develop a relationship with God.  This went on for over a year when she finally gave in and visited a church service.  As the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was being preached, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, to the point that tears were running down her face.  She realized Jesus had died for her sins, and contrary to what the other religion taught her, she could be close to and have a relationship with God as a result. Not through anything she had done or could do, but through what had already been done on the cross.  She made a decision to receive Christ as her Savior that same day and never looked back.

In the other religion she was a part of, everything was works based. God’s love and your connection to His people was predicated on what you do.  However the true Gospel turns all of that on its head in that, “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 CSB) Before we could do anything right or wrong, He died for our sins.  Which means there is no amount of work we can do to earn God’s love.  He gave us His Son, as the sacrificial Lamb, because of His love.  Her story encouraged me in that it demonstrates how patient and loving God is in His pursuit of us. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, He stops at nothing with His reckless love. As we approach Christmas, we are reminded of the birth of Jesus.  Take a moment to thank our Father for allowing Jesus to be born, that He might die, in order to demonstrate God’s overwhelming, never-ending love for me and you.

 

photocredit: dreamstime