When the Scripture teaches us that love always protects, the word means to shield by covering. My son in Law demonstrated this at a firework show, when a rocket fell over aimed at his family. Without hesitation he jumped up and shielded them by taking the fireworks in the back. There are many ways to protect those we love. God’s wisdom is there for the asking.
“Love…always
The smile of acceptance is a beautiful approach to life. Those who love God view life from the lens of faith, and believe that nothing can separate us from His love and its kind intentions.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to
We all lose focus from time to time. Friends are a sweet grace and we are blessed to have them, especially the ones who help us re-find our footing when we have lost it. The only thing better than to have a friend like this, is to be a friend like this.
“I have called you friends.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 7/22/
The message of Jesus is that God loves us. This does not mean that He likes or approves of everything we do. In fact, because His love seeks only what is good, He may work in us, a desire to change some of our bad attitudes, thoughts and actions. He wants cooperation not compliance.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phil.2.13 Conversations Within” ts 7/21/
I either follow Christ or not. There is no middle ground. Either His love governs my thoughts and actions, or it does not. His grace doesn’t just allow us to choose, it empowers us with the freedom to choose. Love can only exist in the air of this freedom. God doesn’t want slaves, He wants sons and daughters.
“Follow me.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 7/18/2024
Am I mindful not only of what is going on around me, but mindful of my disposition as I interact with it? Am I consciously choosing love and its joy as the governing dynamic? Let me remind myself that this is God’s desire for His children. We were created to live loving and joyful lives. To do one is to experience the other.
“I tell you these things so
We use the expression “made in Heaven” to describe the bliss in our lives. But when we think about it, since God made everything that is good and wholesome, then everything He made is made in Heaven. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. This pretty much means that Heaven is a state of mind tuned into God’s goodness, reflected in whatever is around us. Faith and love will always give us a taste of Heaven.
“The Kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 7/16/
Happy people are content, just as content people are happy. To realize this is of great value. It is not our circumstances that determine our happiness. It is wise to keep repeating this to your heart until you stop looking for it outside yourself. Find contentment in your faith that God is setting the table before you each day and will provide you everything for life.
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." Conversations Within” ts 7/16/
My wife and I hike a good bit. One habit we struggle with is always looking at your feet and missing out on the surrounding beauty. Of course looking down at your feet can keep you from tripping on roots and rocks. The life lesson is that there is a time for both, and it is wise to be mindful of everything you do.
“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” Prov.
I was raised to clean up my messes. My wife still reminds me to clean up after myself. It is one thing to make a mess after cooking in the kitchen. It is another to mess up where relationships are concerned. Humbly asking forgiveness is a good first step toward cleaning up this kind of mess. God has made it simple for us where He is concerned.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.” 1Jo.1.9 Conversations Within” ts 7/14/
f we love someone we are probably going to get hurt by them at some point. People who choose to love not only know this they and accept it as part of the deal. Parents know this. Friends know this. Spouses know it too. What is there to do, but to bear up under it, forgive and continue loving.
“Love suffers long where people are concerned.” 1Cor.13 (expanded translation) Conversations Within” ts
When love is the governing dynamic of our life, we naturally overflow in goodness toward others. Even when we make a sacrifice to love another, love does not keep score. Love doesn’t focus on what was lost, but what is gained. Because of this love is never vindictive, but aggressively pursues only benefit.
“Love doesn’t seek its own things.” 1Cor.13 Conversations Within” ts
This is a hard one for me. I can, if I am not diligent in love, easily get my feelings hurt. I imagine that if I am to love others as I should, I may need to nurture callouses where my own feelings are concerned. This might be somewhat true, but more than likely I need true love to grow in me so that the energy of love flows out like a living spring.
“Love is not self seeking.” 1Cor.13
Our interaction with the Bible is not some static application of its letter, but a dynamic application of them as we submit to the living Christ leading us through them. Any use of the Scriptures other than by the leading of the Spirit of Jesus is more than likely a misuse. Anyone can quote the Bible, even Satan did. Jesus simply and truthfully quoted it right
“It is written.” Jesus“Conversations Within” ts 7/8/2024
The movement of our thoughts, words and actions can flow like a peaceful stream, or rage like a flooding river. Happiness, love, and peace are as much the way we live as they are the result of living that way. Live wisely. True wisdom joins knowledge to action. Peace brings together what we know, what we think, and what we do into perfect unity.
“The ways of wisdom are pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”Prov.3.7 “Conversations Within” ts 7/
The difference between self-esteem and self-respect is the difference between loving, and liking yourself. Loving yourself is actively seeking what is good and right and true for yourself. Liking yourself is a feeling--a temperamental mood rather than respect. There are times when the best way we can
“Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.” Prov.19 ESV Conversations Within ts REPOST
“Obedience to God's will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to DO (obey) God's will that brings certainty.” Eric Liddell
It is not our beliefs or the soundness of our doctrine that first measure a healthy relationship with God, but our obedience to Him.
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”
I fondly remember my dad telling me to do something, and would follow it by saying, “immediately if not sooner.” Any delay where our obedience to God is concerned not only creates a bad habit, it just shows that our heart is not where it should be. Do not delay when following God.
“And they immediately left their nets and followed
I tend to forget that I am a child of God, and as such He has every right to expect my obedience. This is never to be confused with forced compliance. Like love, true obedience to God is voluntary. The heart of true obedience is love and respect. Finding joy in obedience is learning to dance to the rhythm of righteousness.
“You will
We might be tempted to think that Heaven is a perfect place with perfect weather, where everything is perfect. But what is a perfect place if we are not made perfect? Experience teaches us that you can be in a peaceful place but have no peace. Here is our first clue, that we must be changed if we are to enjoy what God is preparing for us.
"Wherefore if any man is in
I am glad that glory will not be restricted by my powers of imagination. I can imagine a lot where Heaven is concerned. But happily glory will be designed by the unlimited imagination and power of God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than what I can imagine. Certainly more than the combined imagination of us all.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
I find myself tempted at times to counsel God on how I want Him to answer my prayers. For instance, I pray that He would heal the arthritis in my back so I can sleep. Now He could heal me simply by taking me home to Heaven, but that is not what I have in mind. Still, I am glad His answers are wiser than my request. I am learning that I can trust that He knows what is best.
“…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 7/1/
My wife and I rarely talk about uneventful days. It is not the days when things go as planned that make a good story, but when things take an unexpected twist that are memorable. Just about every good adventure has a dragon to be slain. When the unexpected happens, dress for the adventure coming with it.
“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Ex.1.8 Conversations Within ts 6/29/
People tend to remember the bad rather than the good. I suppose it takes practice to change this. Nurturing an attitude of thankfulness can work this change. It is a blessed person who chooses to see the world with grateful eyes. The next time I am tempted to think bad of something or someone, let me respond by offering thanks for at least one thing about it all.
“Remember the wondrous works that he has done...”
One bit of wisdom that Jesus has passed to us is that life is not, “I” or “me,” but “we” and “us.” Life is community. It is wonderful to know one’s place in the world, and every single one of us need, and belong to one another.
“Our Father in Heaven…” Jesus Conversations Within ts
Humility is a gracious attitude, one that responds to others with patient grace. It fine tunes our focus away from our own feelings toward how others are feeling. Imagine someone dying or in a hospital bed, who is more concerned about those standing around them than they are for themselves. How liberating to have such a heart.
“For I am
My wife wears a tee-shirt that reads, “Be Authentic.” It is easy to pretend that we are something we are not. That is bad enough, but what is really harmful is when we settle for pretending, and adopt it as the norm. Stop pretending, and become. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with God. Be authentic!
“One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth” Pro.13.7 Conversations Within ts 6/24/
