Love Directs

Sunday’s Monday

God has been good to us this week in that Haley Grooms (granddaughter) celebrated a birthday this week. We were blessed to entertain two of my very special first cousins this week with a meal and fellowship. God granted us a special treat this week as we had church on Saturday followed by lunch with Linda and Joe Dillard, in light of being covered with 6 to 10 inches of snow covering everything today.

I have had this thought for some time now and today seems to be the time God has picked to share it. A long time ago I wrote a little poem while trying to understand my confusion at the time. I titled it “Who Am I” and over the years a lot of my questions have been answered through seeking to understand the Love of Jesus. The poem went as follows: Who am I and why am I here? Where do I fit, in this earthly sphere? Why was I chosen and set aside? What is the basis, for me to abide? When will I, be given the reason? How God picked me, just for this season! PAL I was impressed this past Thursday when a speaker at our Brother Night Meeting said, “God is the who in every how!” Man, that is so on target for me! I learned many years ago through the wisdom of my mentor, It’s not about me! I have nothing to bring to God’s table! God doesn’t love me for what I have, what I’ve done or where I’ve been. God loves me because He created me! Ephesians 1:4 (NLT), Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. The New Testament is the greatest love story ever told in the history of the world. For years and years, I loved God incorrectly. I loved Him based on my performance, my blessings, my everything and found I wasn’t free, delivered and filled with joy. I actually, made it into a chore listening to and trying different things I’d hear religious people say. I even tried, John 5:39-40 (ESV) 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. When I asked God what was going on, He showed me; 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT), 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. I understood Him to say to me, if you truly understand how much I love you, you will love me accordingly. This threw me for a loop, I struggled, strained and worried about my love for Jesus in-which caused my yoke with Him to be uncomfortable. Then; Jesus gives me a new meaning for it’s not about me! The bible is written to enlighten you as to the depth of love that I have for you. If you will read the bible as a love story instead of a “have to” guide, my light in you shall become brighter. You will see me in a new light of which will be easy to understand yet hard to comprehend. I recently heard it said at a Brother Night Meeting we must stop studying the bible as a book and start using it to study Jesus! 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT) 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Reread verse 10, not that we love God, but that he first loved us! The more I take the snake of “have to” from around my neck and place the robe of appreciation on my shoulders, that I see the light within this scripture. God loved me enough to send His son to death for my sins, even before I was born. He loves me enough to give me life for this this moment and He has made the necessary arrangements for my wellbeing. God loves me regardless of my past, present and future. God loves me in ways I cannot fathom, because, Romans 8:39 (NLT), No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. The more time that I spend with Jesus in prayer, study and meditation of His love for me, the deeper I will love and follow Him. Through His love all else finds its place!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

COMMENTS WELCOME…pal249@hotmail.com…12/09/2018