Living with Purpose – Let God Love You

I recently heard a report of the stress people feel in our modern times. Seems the younger generation is feeling the greater amount of stress these days, while the older generation does not feel the pressure as much. The report went on the say what they discovered is the younger generation is feeling the pressure to perform in a limited job market, while being heavy laden with school loans. The “Baby-Boomers” as they are known, the retiring generation, still feels the pinch of the economy, but are not as burdened with future expectations.

While I was planning a wrap up to this series, this verse kept coming to mind. “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:27). Upon further meditation, I sensed the notion of letting God love me. Funny, I get so concerned with loving God and seeking him, that I have lost sight of the bigger meaning – God wants me to relax and let him care for me.

The scriptures state this over and over. These are just a few;

“Be still and know I am God”

“On the seventh day God rested and declared it Holy”

“Give all your cares to the Lord, because he cares for you”

“Do not be concerned with your day to day living needs of food and drink”

“One moment of worry can not change a thing”

When I meditate on the Sabbath Day, the purpose that God designed for that day becomes clearer. The book of Leviticus, gives the instructions for the Sabbath Day was more than a day of rest, it was a day to let God love you.

On the seventh day, creation of the world and everything in it was complete. God was not tired, He rejoiced. He declared it Holy because it was a day made for us to delight in his love. A day not to be concerned with anything else. No harvest, No work, No preparing - just enjoying his love.

What a beautiful concept. I praise God that he has deepened my understanding of his love. It's been my pleasure to share this simple understanding with all of you.

May His peace be with you all as you delight in His love!!!!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John 14:27

Living with Purpose – Opportunity to Love

Welcome to the February edition of the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our topic is "Opportunity" I hope you will check out the other members on the right side bar for for insights on the topic. Peace and Blessings!!

With each new day, we have the opportunity to give love. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not available to us, so right now, today, is the all that we have. All those fleeting moments of opportunity to share this most basic, God given and inspired emotion, Love.

Our English word Love does not fully express the phases of love. We use the word to express a variety of emotional reactions, such as we love our home, pet or car (materialistic love); We love chocolate, pizza or coffee (appetizing love); We love our family, friends (friendly love); We love our spouse and children (passionate love) but the expression of love that I want to share is the opportunity to love the (self sacrificing love) that reveals God in us.

Parents know of this self sacrificing love. It begins the moment they hear the sound of their child's first cry or take their first breath. Through the long sleepless nights of tending to their child's illness or teething, caring for ouwiees, chasing the boogie man out of the closet, and making their little world the safe haven for adventure. It's a sense of deep satisfaction to watch them grow and mature. God experiences the same type of satisfaction as our Heavenly Father.

God's love is with us all the time, it never fades or changes. He was there when we took our first breath, He gave our parents wisdom to care for our illnesses and He gave us courage to call out for help. With the assistance of our earthly parents, he made our worlds a safe haven for adventure so that we would come seeking and find him.

As Christians, we have the opportunity to share our adventure in seeking God with those around us. We are his vessel and he has chosen us to shine his love in the world. Jesus said that we are salt and light, (Matthew 5:13-16). We have a testimony (salt) and truth (light). Don't water down your salt and don't hide your light, let God flow through you.

Sharing Godly love is not an accident and it doesn't come naturally. It's the evidence of a changed life! Once we were only seeking our own desires and did things for the 'approval of people' but now through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can truly give love from a self sacrificing position.

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of God is given to them” (Matthew 5:3)

Living with Purpose – Share Your Treasure

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are entrusted with an immeasurable treasure, The Truth. We possess the knowledge that Jesus is who he said he is and we are the benefactors of his salvation. As with all God given gifts, this treasure is meant to be shared, but we may not know how.

Jesus commissioned all of his disciples by saying, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this that I am with you even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20 NLT).

When the first disciples received their mission, they didn't know how they going to achieve such a huge assignment. What were they going to do? Where were they going to go? And what were they say?

Have you felt this way? I know I have. We struggle so much with the fear of rejection that we remain silent. We fear we will face ridicule, judgment, embarrassment and even ostracized for our faith in Jesus Christ.

So how can we overcome this fear and begin fulfilling our mission? Two things we must understand. First, we can not save anyone, that is the Holy Spirit’s job, we are only the messengers.

Next, embrace “Faith comes by hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).Be ready to share the Good News with everyone the Lord lays on your heart. Share your story how the Lord answered prayers, helped in times of trouble, been a loyal friend. This what the first disciples did. Their testimony changed the world!

Finally, commit yourself to Christ. The triumph of the Church described in the book of Acts, came because the disciples moved out in the strength of the Holy Spirit. “They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer” (Acts 2:42 NLT). The result of their devotion “Each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47 NLT).The same triumph continues today!

“Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22 KJV)