Tag: God

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Where Is God?



Happy Tuesday everyone, and happy early Easter! Because of the undeniable-yet-almost-unbelievable fact that Easter is right around the corner (despite of the three feet of snow on the ground right now), I have decided to do an Easter-themed post again. I love Easter because of what it means. I hope you find the same thing!

Many people are taught to think that God is “over there”. That He doesn’t care. That He wound up the world like a clock and then stepped away. That He couldn’t really be involved with us. 

But that, dear friend, is a very sad and misleading lie. 
God is love. How do we know what love is? We get to know God, because we CAN, and what God (through Jesus) did for us. 
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (1 John 3:16, ESV)

Why would Jesus lay down His life for us? Because He loves us.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13, ESV)

We sinned and broke our relationship with God. Sin equals separation from God. So why again did Jesus come?

To show us love. To lay down His life for us. To restore our broken relationship with God.

We need to lay aside the facts of our past and what we’ve done to think that we could never accept love from God. 
It’s true that we don’t deserve it. But that is how we know true love, that he reached out to us when we had run away…far away…too far away to be found by anyone accept God.

God wants to know us. And we can know him too. We know God because we accept His amazing love that He has shown us. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, ESV)

God is not “over there”. He is here. And His love reaches far…no matter how far you are, you can always come back. 

I know this post is extra short today, but seriously, what more is there? 
Love is here because God is here; God is Love. 

Thank you Lord for your amazing love.

*aj

Category: From The Bible
Tags: love, Jesus, Easter, amazing love, God’s love, God
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What is True Love?

What is True Love?
Where does it come from? Is it Prince Charming sweeping Cinderella off her feet? Is it a romantic moonlit stroll on the beach? Is it chocolate and roses on Valentine’s Day?
 Is it getting the attention and affection that a girl wants? Is it getting the appreciation and respect that a guy wants?
How do we know what love really is?
Let me start out by saying that I want to be loved. Like really and truly loved. (Not that I’m not loved by my family. I *truly* am. But I mean that I want to be loved by someone who has absolutely no obligation to. I think most people seek after this love.)
I want someone to look deep into my eyes and say, “Amanda, you are worthy of love (which is actually what ‘Amanda’ means) and I love you with my whole heart.”
 Deep down, don’t we all want that in one way or another? I know that I do. (Maybe that’s just because I’m a girl. Whatever.) Acceptance. Love. Respect. Affection. Appreciation. We all want it! But – you’ll never find that PERFECT satisfaction in a person.
There is a love that I have found – true love – it goes deeper than any human love. Regardless of my performance, I am reached. Despite my everyday failures, I am pursued. This love died for me and is the only love that can satisfy. What love have I found? The perfect love of God.
We’ll never be truly satisfied until we set our hearts in the love of God. We can even be Christians and not do this! (Bad scenario, by the way.)
Our ultimate love and satisfaction should come from God’s love. I know this might sound cheesy, but I’ve learned to say, “I know how to be content in all circumstances, whether in a relationship or single, because my relationship with God is TRULY ALL I NEED to be satisfied.”
Last year, I sought to be noticed. I don’t think I understood then how useless that would prove to be! This year, I’m focusing on more important things – like loving my Heavenly Father and loving others. Why get into a dating relationship now? I have all that I need to be content…and even more, full of JOY.
Disclaimer: I do NOT know everything about love. And NOT AT ALL am I saying that a serious relationship or marriage is not fulfilling. From all the people I’ve talked to, marriage is truly wonderful (and personally I’m really looking forward to it!) but only God can satisfy our craving for love. Marriage is an expression of God’s love, not the fullness of it. The fullness of God’s love – Jesus’ death on the cross for us and therefore forgiveness, love, and acceptance – is truly satisfying.
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A Journal Entry: Who I Am, Who God Is

Okay. This isn’t exactly a regular post. (I’ll be back with a regular post next time!) I’ve felt all these things…and yet God has stayed by me. He’s gotten me through and He never changes or lets me down. And I hope that when YOU read them, you are reminded of who God is in spite of you are, too.
God, when I am faithless, you are faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)
When I am hopeless, you are my hope. (Romans 15:13)
When my heart is breaking, you comfort me. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 34:14)
When I fail, your grace washes over me. (Hebrews 4:16)
When I am depressed, you care about me. (1 Peter 5:6-7)
When I suffer, you cry with me. (John 11:35)
When my world crumbles, you stand. (Psalm 94:22)
When I am not good enough, you are. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
When I don’t know how to love, you are love. (1 John 4:16)
When I am at a loss for words, you speak truth. (John 17:17)
When I feel ugly, you remind me that I was made in your image. (Genesis 1:27)
When I sin, you are perfect and holy. And you forgive. (Psalm 18:30, 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1)
When I want to give up, you strengthen me. (Isaiah 41:10)
When my friends fail me, you are my best friend. (Proverbs 18:24)
When I disobey and run away, you are my good shepherd. (Isaiah 40:11)
When I am betrayed, I am your child. (Galatians 3:26)
When I am shaken, you are my peace. (Philippians 4:7)
When I am in battle, you give me victory. (Deuteronomy 20:4)
When the world hates me, you have the greatest love for me. (John 15:13)
When even my family fails, you are the Everlasting God and Father. (Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 23:9)
Remember His promises…and draw hope. His love and mercy and grace and faithfulness extend to all.
*aj
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