We Love Because God Loves Us
by Rick Warren
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
*** *** *** ***
The reason God wants us to love is because he is love, and he created us to be like him – to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God … because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).
We were created in God’s image to do two things on earth: Learn to love God and learn to love other people; life is all about love.
But love all started with God. He loved us first and that gives us the ability to love others (1 John 4:19). The only reason you can love God or love anybody else is because God first loved you. And he showed that love by sending Jesus Christ to earth to die for you. He showed that love by creating you. He showed that love by everything you have in life; it’s all a gift of God’s love.
In order to love others and to become great lovers, we first need to understand and feel how much God loves us. We don’t want to just talk about love, read about love, or discuss about love; our need is to experience the love of God.
We need to reach a day when we finally, fully understand how God loves us completely and unconditionally. We need to become secure in the truth that we cannot make God stop loving us.
Once we’re secure inside God’s unconditional love, we’ll start cutting people a lot of slack. We won’t be as angry as we’ve been. We’ll be more patient. We’ll be more forgiving. We’ll be more merciful. We’ll give others grace.
But you cannot give to others what you have not received yourself, and so my hope is that, as you learn how much God loves you, you’ll also let him heal your heart so that his love can flow freely through you. It’s impossible to love others until you really feel loved yourself.
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
have a beautiful day,
xo
michelle
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
. what if
What if you’re right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
What if you dig,
What if you dig way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That’s all you find
What if you pick apart the logic and begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more than folklore that must be told and retold
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
Nichole Nordeman - What If
From the album Brave
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
What if you dig,
What if you dig way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That’s all you find
What if you pick apart the logic and begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more than folklore that must be told and retold
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
Nichole Nordeman - What If
From the album Brave
. letting the inside match the outside
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you- matthew 6:4
. almost all of us live two lives: what people see outside and what is really going on inside. in school we learn what outward signs of attention will please the teacher. at a job we learn to put up a "good front" whenever the boss happens to stroll by. as if donning masks, we style our hair, choose clothes, and use body language to impress those around us. over time, we learn to excel at hiding problems.
chapters 5-7 in matthew announce that the time has come for us to change not just the outside, but the inside. in Jesus' day, religious people tried to impress each other with showy outwardly behavior. they wore gaunt and hungry looks during a brief fast, prayed grandiosely if people were watching, and went so far as to wear bible verses strapped to their foreheads and left arms.
in His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus blasts the hypocrisy behind such seemingly harmless practices. God is not fooled by appearances. we cannot fake behavior to impress Him. He knows that inside the best of us lurk dark thoughts of hatred, jealousy, pride and lust- internal problems only He can deal with. Jesus goes on to present a truly radical way of life, free of pretense.
the way of life described is more radical than anything before or since. Jesus' words turn many normal assumptions upside down. with statements like, "blessed are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...the peacemakers...those who are persecuted," Jesus attacks those who strive to build a good image by appearing powerful, successful and assertive.
perhaps the most radical of all, the sermon on the mounts introduces the possibility of living solely for God and not for appearances. at last we can bring our inner and outer together.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
. almost all of us live two lives: what people see outside and what is really going on inside. in school we learn what outward signs of attention will please the teacher. at a job we learn to put up a "good front" whenever the boss happens to stroll by. as if donning masks, we style our hair, choose clothes, and use body language to impress those around us. over time, we learn to excel at hiding problems.
chapters 5-7 in matthew announce that the time has come for us to change not just the outside, but the inside. in Jesus' day, religious people tried to impress each other with showy outwardly behavior. they wore gaunt and hungry looks during a brief fast, prayed grandiosely if people were watching, and went so far as to wear bible verses strapped to their foreheads and left arms.
in His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus blasts the hypocrisy behind such seemingly harmless practices. God is not fooled by appearances. we cannot fake behavior to impress Him. He knows that inside the best of us lurk dark thoughts of hatred, jealousy, pride and lust- internal problems only He can deal with. Jesus goes on to present a truly radical way of life, free of pretense.
the way of life described is more radical than anything before or since. Jesus' words turn many normal assumptions upside down. with statements like, "blessed are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...the peacemakers...those who are persecuted," Jesus attacks those who strive to build a good image by appearing powerful, successful and assertive.
perhaps the most radical of all, the sermon on the mounts introduces the possibility of living solely for God and not for appearances. at last we can bring our inner and outer together.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
. spiritual warfare
How to Fight Spiritual Warfare
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
*** *** *** ***
There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:
1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you're being attacked, it's proof that you're a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense.
If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, "The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil" (NLT).
2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers are very ignorant about the authority they have to use against the Devil. Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples …" (NIV). He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he's given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on God's armor. When Paul wrote about the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle.
For instance, I will often pray, "Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don't want to think the Devil's thoughts. I don't want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness."
4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul says the weapons God gives us to use demolish arguments – that's the way people think; they pull down pretension – that's the way people think.
We take every thought captive. In this battle for thoughts, we have four weapons: humility, faith, truth, and praise.
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
*** *** *** ***
There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:
1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you're being attacked, it's proof that you're a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense.
If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, "The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil" (NLT).
2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers are very ignorant about the authority they have to use against the Devil. Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples …" (NIV). He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he's given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on God's armor. When Paul wrote about the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle.
For instance, I will often pray, "Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don't want to think the Devil's thoughts. I don't want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness."
4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul says the weapons God gives us to use demolish arguments – that's the way people think; they pull down pretension – that's the way people think.
We take every thought captive. In this battle for thoughts, we have four weapons: humility, faith, truth, and praise.
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
. need a prescription? you choose.
Hollywood's Prescription for Lasting Relationships:
1. Find the right person.
2. Fall in love.
3. Fix your hopes and dreamsof future fulfillment on that person.
4. If failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.
God's Prescription for Lasting Relationships:
1. Become the right person.
2. Walk in love.
3. Fix your hope on God and seek to please Him through your relationship.
4. When failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.
- chip ingram (love, sex and lasting relationships)
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
1. Find the right person.
2. Fall in love.
3. Fix your hopes and dreamsof future fulfillment on that person.
4. If failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.
God's Prescription for Lasting Relationships:
1. Become the right person.
2. Walk in love.
3. Fix your hope on God and seek to please Him through your relationship.
4. When failure occurs, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.
- chip ingram (love, sex and lasting relationships)
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Friday, June 27, 2008
. the desires of my heart
. I had been praying for something I wanted very badly. It seemed a good thing to have, a thing that would make life even more pleasant than it is, and would not in any way hinder my work. God did not give it to me. Why? I do not know all of his reasons, of course. The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him. But one thing I do understand: He offers me holiness at the price of relinquishing my own will.
"Do you honestly want to know Me?" He asks. I answer yes. "Then do what I say," He replies. "Do it when you understand it; do it when you don't understand it. Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you. The very relinquishment of this thing that you so urgently desire is a true demonstration of the sincerity of your lifelong prayer: Thy will be done.
So instead of hammering on heaven's door for something which it is now quite clear God does not want me to have, I make my desire an offering. The longed-for thing is material for sacrifice. Here, Lord, it's yours.
He will, I believe, accept the offering. He will transform it into something redemptive. He may perhaps give it back as He did Isaac to Abraham, but He will know that I fully intend to obey Him.
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
"Do you honestly want to know Me?" He asks. I answer yes. "Then do what I say," He replies. "Do it when you understand it; do it when you don't understand it. Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you. The very relinquishment of this thing that you so urgently desire is a true demonstration of the sincerity of your lifelong prayer: Thy will be done.
So instead of hammering on heaven's door for something which it is now quite clear God does not want me to have, I make my desire an offering. The longed-for thing is material for sacrifice. Here, Lord, it's yours.
He will, I believe, accept the offering. He will transform it into something redemptive. He may perhaps give it back as He did Isaac to Abraham, but He will know that I fully intend to obey Him.
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Monday, May 26, 2008
. how to hear God
. How to hear God
It's an honor to be able to speak to God. We don't have to go through a priest or a saint or any other intermediary. We don't have to follow any prescribed rituals. We don't have to wait for an appointment. Anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances we can approach the throne of grace with confidences, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).
Ironically, though, most of the time we think of prayer as talking to God, rarely stopping to wonder whether God might want to talk to us. You can almost sense God saying, If we enjoy a relationship, why are you the one doing all the talking? Let me get a word in somewhere.
The importance of listening:
People who are really interested in hearing from God must pay a price: they must discipline themselves to be still before God. This is not an easy task, but it is essential. Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).
God's power is available to you when you come to Him in solitude, when you learn how to focus and center your heart, and be quiet before Him. Then you find that His leadings come through to you clearly, with little interference.
Set aside a half-hour each day (preferably in the morning) and be still with God. Use the time to reflect on the previous day, write out your prayers, and invite the Lord to speak to you.
Custom-design an approach that will still your racing mind and body, soften your heart, and enable you to hear God's voice. If journals aren't your thing, try talking quietly to God, then have a period of listening.
Ask God questions.
What's the next step in developing my character?
At what educational goals should I aim?
What's the next step in my ministry?
What's the next step in my vocation?
In what direction should my dating relationship go?
What should I do for my children?
How should I plan my giving?
Keep your ears tuned to Him each day. It is possible to be aware throughout the day, even while going about your daily work, of God's gentle promptings. That's what it means to live by the spirit (Gal 5:16). These on-the-spot promptings are not a substitute for unhurried quiet time with God. In fact, they tend to come when you regularly make time for stillness and solitude.
You don't need to feel upset if sometimes God chooses to remain silent. He's a living Being, not an answering machine, and He speaks when He has something to say. If we aren't willing to follow up on the Holy Spirit's leading, He may see no reason to continue speaking.
Usually the reason we don't hear His voice is that we don't listen for it. We don't schedule times of stillness that make communication possible. Turn off the TV, radio, CD player, and formally invite Him to speak to you.
How can you be sure that a leading is truly from God?
All leadings that come from God are consistent with God's Word, the Bible. The surest way to test the source of a leading is to check it against Scriptures.
God's leadings are usually consistent with the person He made you to be. God is purposeful; He wants to use you in the areas of the gifts and talents He gave you.
God's leadings usually involve servanthood rather than being self-serving. He will call you to humble yourself, serve somebody, encourage somebody, or give something away.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
It's an honor to be able to speak to God. We don't have to go through a priest or a saint or any other intermediary. We don't have to follow any prescribed rituals. We don't have to wait for an appointment. Anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances we can approach the throne of grace with confidences, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).
Ironically, though, most of the time we think of prayer as talking to God, rarely stopping to wonder whether God might want to talk to us. You can almost sense God saying, If we enjoy a relationship, why are you the one doing all the talking? Let me get a word in somewhere.
The importance of listening:
People who are really interested in hearing from God must pay a price: they must discipline themselves to be still before God. This is not an easy task, but it is essential. Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).
God's power is available to you when you come to Him in solitude, when you learn how to focus and center your heart, and be quiet before Him. Then you find that His leadings come through to you clearly, with little interference.
Set aside a half-hour each day (preferably in the morning) and be still with God. Use the time to reflect on the previous day, write out your prayers, and invite the Lord to speak to you.
Custom-design an approach that will still your racing mind and body, soften your heart, and enable you to hear God's voice. If journals aren't your thing, try talking quietly to God, then have a period of listening.
Ask God questions.
What's the next step in developing my character?
At what educational goals should I aim?
What's the next step in my ministry?
What's the next step in my vocation?
In what direction should my dating relationship go?
What should I do for my children?
How should I plan my giving?
Keep your ears tuned to Him each day. It is possible to be aware throughout the day, even while going about your daily work, of God's gentle promptings. That's what it means to live by the spirit (Gal 5:16). These on-the-spot promptings are not a substitute for unhurried quiet time with God. In fact, they tend to come when you regularly make time for stillness and solitude.
You don't need to feel upset if sometimes God chooses to remain silent. He's a living Being, not an answering machine, and He speaks when He has something to say. If we aren't willing to follow up on the Holy Spirit's leading, He may see no reason to continue speaking.
Usually the reason we don't hear His voice is that we don't listen for it. We don't schedule times of stillness that make communication possible. Turn off the TV, radio, CD player, and formally invite Him to speak to you.
How can you be sure that a leading is truly from God?
All leadings that come from God are consistent with God's Word, the Bible. The surest way to test the source of a leading is to check it against Scriptures.
God's leadings are usually consistent with the person He made you to be. God is purposeful; He wants to use you in the areas of the gifts and talents He gave you.
God's leadings usually involve servanthood rather than being self-serving. He will call you to humble yourself, serve somebody, encourage somebody, or give something away.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Sunday, April 27, 2008
. love
. "We have all been created for greater things--
to love and to be loved.
Love is love--
to love a person without any conditions, without any expectations.
Works of love are works of peace and purity.
Works of love are always a means of becoming closer to God, so the more we help each other,
the more we really love God better by loving each other.
Jesus very clearly said, 'Love one another as I have loved you.'
Love in action is what gives us grace.
We pray and, if we are able to love with a whole heart, then we will see the need.
Those who are unwanted, unloved, and uncared for become just a throwaway society--
that's why we must really make everybody feel wanted.
There is something else to remember--that this kind of love begins at home. We cannot give to the outside what we don't have on the inside. This is very important. If I can't see God's love in my brother and sister then how can I see that love in somebody else? How can I give it to somebody else? Everybody has some good. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there."
~Mother Teresa
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Thursday, April 17, 2008
. a simple path
. if you are searching for God and do not know where to begin, learn to pray and take the trouble to pray every day. you can pray anytime, anywhere. you do not have to be in a church. you can pray at work- work doesn't have to stop prayer and prayer doesn't have to stop work. you can also consult a pastor or friend for guidance, or try speaking directly to God.
JUST SPEAK.
tell Him everything, talk to Him. He is our father, He is father to us all whatever religion we are. we are all created by God, we are his children. we have to put our trust in Him and love Him, believe in Him, work for Him. And if we pray, we will get all the answers we need
~Mother Teresa
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
JUST SPEAK.
tell Him everything, talk to Him. He is our father, He is father to us all whatever religion we are. we are all created by God, we are his children. we have to put our trust in Him and love Him, believe in Him, work for Him. And if we pray, we will get all the answers we need
~Mother Teresa
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Sunday, January 6, 2008
. just BE
BE You—There is only one you, you are a gift, an original, no one else is qualified for the job! We need you. Be everything that you are. Be happy, be sad, be everything in between. Embrace the world with your own genuine style, do it your way, show us a new way and leave your mark on the world.
BElieve in yourself—Believe in your instincts and in that little voice deep down inside that speaks to you. Let go of fear and let your skills, talent, beauty and ideas shine through. Henry Ford said something that I love: "If you think you can or think you can't you are probably right." If you believe in yourself there is nothing that you can't do.
BE Passionate—Go for it, give it all you've got, live life like it matters, put your heart into everything you do, live loud, reach for the stars, dream big, get excited, go for it, feel life, taste life, hear life and celebrate life.
BElong to something you believe in. Join an organization. Start a club or find a group of friends whose ideas, company and values mean something to you.
BEgin today—Every day is an opportunity to learn something or discover something or someplace. Be curious, play, go out on a limb, walk a different way to work, try a new food at dinner, and keep learning and growing.
BEcome what you dream to be. Set goals, identify what matters, focus on where you want to go and go there. You are in the driver's seat—you are not the passenger when it comes to following your dreams. You are in charge so take a detour, take the back roads, get lost or decide your dream has changed just be sure you stay on the journey.
BEdazzle with your smile and laughter. Laugh until it hurts, until you cry, until you have everyone in the room laughing and you can't laugh anymore. Laughter is an instant vacation so have fun, play and enjoy life. Light up the room with sunshine and flash that beautiful smile. Remember a smile is a little curve that straightens everything out.
BEhave like it's your last day on the planet. Live in the moment, celebrate you and the people you love. Connect, hug, tell people that you appreciate them, sleep late or get up early, watch the sun rise or set. Use your senses and taste, hear and see the beauty all around you. Say I love you as many times as you can.
-Sandra Magsamen, www.sandramagsamen.com.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
BElieve in yourself—Believe in your instincts and in that little voice deep down inside that speaks to you. Let go of fear and let your skills, talent, beauty and ideas shine through. Henry Ford said something that I love: "If you think you can or think you can't you are probably right." If you believe in yourself there is nothing that you can't do.
BE Passionate—Go for it, give it all you've got, live life like it matters, put your heart into everything you do, live loud, reach for the stars, dream big, get excited, go for it, feel life, taste life, hear life and celebrate life.
BElong to something you believe in. Join an organization. Start a club or find a group of friends whose ideas, company and values mean something to you.
BEgin today—Every day is an opportunity to learn something or discover something or someplace. Be curious, play, go out on a limb, walk a different way to work, try a new food at dinner, and keep learning and growing.
BEcome what you dream to be. Set goals, identify what matters, focus on where you want to go and go there. You are in the driver's seat—you are not the passenger when it comes to following your dreams. You are in charge so take a detour, take the back roads, get lost or decide your dream has changed just be sure you stay on the journey.
BEdazzle with your smile and laughter. Laugh until it hurts, until you cry, until you have everyone in the room laughing and you can't laugh anymore. Laughter is an instant vacation so have fun, play and enjoy life. Light up the room with sunshine and flash that beautiful smile. Remember a smile is a little curve that straightens everything out.
BEhave like it's your last day on the planet. Live in the moment, celebrate you and the people you love. Connect, hug, tell people that you appreciate them, sleep late or get up early, watch the sun rise or set. Use your senses and taste, hear and see the beauty all around you. Say I love you as many times as you can.
-Sandra Magsamen, www.sandramagsamen.com.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)