Tag Archives: love

Dec4

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lsgrlr

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

James 2. “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (Verses 1-4). Do these verses make you feel a little guilty? They make me feel a little guilty. I think we often assume that richer means better, but God is reminding us that richer, simply means, richer. Wealth, status, and nice clothing does not equate to “good” or “better”. Don’t assume that. I have met many homeless people that I would spend time with over the wealthiest of persons. God came to save the “least of these” not the most affluent. Don’t judge a book by its cover. In fact don’t judge at all, we’re not God. Instead let’s just do what He says, and love without partiality.

Nov25

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on November 25, 2013 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Hebrews 6. “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain” (Verses 17-19). Hope everyone needs it, wants it. In one way or the other it is the thing that everyone seeks. We (Christians) have an unbreakable, unchangeable, immovable hope. Why? It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie (His very nature is truth), we can rest in His promises because what He says He will do. Today when it feels like all hope is lost, look up and remember that God does not lie.

Nov21

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on November 21, 2013 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Hebrews 2. “For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Verses 17-18). The best thing about Christ is that He understands, not because He created me. But because He experienced what I experience. He has walked the same roads, encountered the same temptation. Yet He remained Holy.Because He overcame, I (we) can overcome too. This is GOOD news. We don’t have a unfeeling, “I am better than you” god. Instead we have a savior who understands our weaknesses, knows that we are “but dust”, and loves us anyway. Wow!

Nov10

DAY 314

Posted on November 10, 2013 by lsgrlr

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A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today is Sunday, growing up the days of the week were: Monday, Tuesday, Bible Study day, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Church day. Therefore, today I went to, yup you guessed it, Church. My favorite part of Sunday service is Praise and Worship. Why? It calms me down, and prepares my heart to hear. I don’t know about you all, but the week normally beats me up. By the time Friday roles around, I am more than ready for a couple days of rest. Praise songs set me straight, they bring me to a place where I let everything else wash away and I just float. Today however, my floating was interrupted. What happened, you ask? Singing off-key happened, and it happened LOUD and proud. There was a gentleman behind me that was not blessed with the gift of carrying a tune (this is NOT for dramatic effect). He really, really wasn’t. But here’s the cool part that did not stop him from belting it out. He sang with ALL his heart (really, really, really loudly), he put his whole self into the song. He was praising the God who loved him first. My first reaction was, “What is that noise?” I became distracted paying more attention how he sounded, and less attention to what was being sung. I was just about to get indignant, (as though God only wanted people with great voices, which would exclude me, to sing His praise), when God’s small whisper came with these words…”Make a joyful NOISE.” He then reminded me that heaven would be like this, each of us praising God. This immediately brought my focus back to where it needed to be, worshiping God. God tells us to come, He asks us to praise with our ENTIRE being, Today the man behind me did just that. Yes it was noisy, noisy and JOYFUL…the best kind of praise EVER!

Oct15

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on October 15, 2013 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Ephesians 2. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Verses 1-5). Grace is my all time favorite word in any language. It means that we who were deserving of death, received life instead. It means that someone paid the penalty for my crimes, so that I could go free. Grace. Don’t take it for granted, because while it is freely given, it cost the GIVER a tremendous price.

Oct3

DAY 276

Posted on October 3, 2013 by lsgrlr

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On the journey it is okay to ask for what you really want. But be okay if the answer is no.

Further adventures in house hunting. First let me start by saying, our Realtor, ROCKS! She is wicked cool. I am so thankful we found her, she has manage to make one of the most stressful situation a person can go through, fun and humorous. God has used her to show me that He wants to bless us, that He has good things in store. But here is something else I have learned on this house hunting journey: It’s okay to ask for what you really want. This is a phenomenal discovery for me, because I never wanted to presume on God’s grace, or love. I am always (genuinely) happy with what I am blessed with. I have learned to be grateful for what I have (even when it is not much). As we have been looking for a new home to live in, I at many points thought about settling for something that was less than what I really desired. One day as I sat contemplating, I was reminded of Jeremiah 29:11, God as a plan for me (for us) one that will bless and prosper me (not necessarily monetarily), one that will meet all the desires of my heart. It was almost as if God said, “Why are you settling, when I have the very best in store for you?” I think we do this a lot to God, limit His power, not because we don’t trust that He can do what He said, but because we don’t want to over step our boundaries. I am learning it is okay to ask. But if the answer is no, we need to know, it is no, because it is the best thing for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

So what am I thankful for today? Asking without fear.

Sep22

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on September 22, 2013 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Corinthians 16. ” Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (Verses 13-14). Exhortation. It is encouragement for the soul, encouragement for out life, but it is also reproof. Reproof? Yes, it is a reminder that we have not arrived, there are always things to work on. For the church in Corinth, it seems they needed to work on LOVE. Paul said “Be strong.” “Be courageous.” “Stand firm in your faith.” “Be on your guard.” But do it ALL in LOVE. The same holds true for us, we must hold on to what we know is true. We must watch and wait understanding that our enemy wants to trip us up, and make us fall. When we feel weak, we should find our strength in Christ. When fear comes in like a flood ready to drown us, we must remember our courage comes from God, who loves us and has a plan. As we pursue all that He has called us to do, remember this: Do it ALL in LOVE. It is the very character of the One who has saved us.

Sep19

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on September 19, 2013 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Corinthians 13. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (Verses 1-3). Good things can be done for wrong reasons. I know people that do amazing things just for the praise they receive, there is no true meaning behind their acts of kindness. God says at the end of the day that behavior amounts to nothing. Why? It means nothing without love. There must be a heart, a reason, and growth behind what we do. The praise of men will eventually fade, but what is done in love will remain.

Aug17

DAY 229

Posted on August 17, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Sometimes doing what we don’t like can be a win-win.

Today was awesome I went shopping, if you know me, you know this NEVER happens. I am one of the few girls in the world that dislikes shopping (i really, really do). I go shopping for what I need. I usually know what I want and go for that and that alone. I don’t peruse. Today I was on a mission to get perfume, facial wipes, eyeliner, a pair of pants and a top. I listed the items because, I am so excited, I got every thing I wanted and spent under $25.00! Nope, I did not go to Walmart. Clothing from The Loft, and make-up from Ulta. Right about now you’re thinking, “will there be a point?” Why yes, there will be. Here it is: Sometimes even the things we don’t like can be enjoyable. I went shopping today because my mom likes it, it’s her way of spending time with me. As I got home and looked over my purchases it dawned on me, that I was very blessed to get everything I wanted, spend quality time with my mom, and not walk away broke. I had a an AMAZING day, doing something I don’t really like. We get so caught up in our likes and dislikes, and many times they become fences that box us in. Had I decided, I don’t like shopping, so I am not going. I would have missed out on a great day with the person who loves me most (second only to God). Here’s a little advise re-evaluate your “don’t like” list. It may be the open door you need to a great day with “the person that loves you most.”

” Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8, NIV).

So what am I thankful for today? New clothes, free perfume, and a happy mother.

Aug8

DAY 220

Posted on August 8, 2013 by lsgrlr

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Sometimes the people that beep and chirp the loudest, just need a new battery.

Four of the smoke detectors in our house have lost battery power. Therefore, I find it ironic that loss of power causes them to beep incessantly. Why? Because logic would tell us that losing your power source would cause you to, well, not work. Yet as the battery starts the fade the round discs attached to my ceiling chirps loud, and unpleasantly as a reminder to me that they need…help. Help? Yes they need batteries to function in the manner that they are supposed to. I am telling this story because I have a person in my world, who has recently started “chirping” loud and unpleasantly. When this new onset of behavior first started it annoyed me. Really. Really. Annoyed. Me. But as I sat putting the batteries in my smoke detectors today, it dawned on me. Maybe, just maybe my friend needs help. Maybe I have viewing them with judgment and not with friendship. Here’s what I realized we tend to view people how WE think they should behave and often time the standard we use as a measuring stick…is ourselves. It never dawned on me (because I am selfish, a product of my humanity), to ask my friend if there was anything wrong. Anything I could help with? But God (I am sure you knew it was coming), used a beeping, chirping, dying smoke detector to change my perspective. I shouldn’t be surprised, He once used a donkey. There is a saying, “The dog that barks the loudest is the one who got hit”, sometimes when people scream and yell it is because they “got hit” and they just need someone to notice.

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Ephesians 4:2, NLT).

So what am I thankful for today? Lesson from a beeping smoke detector :).