Love Like Jesus: Means Loving Jesus

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40

Loving like Jesus means loving God the Father first. I missed a step when I tried to love another as Jesus does. I cannot start there.

All my Heart: Jesus, quench my need for love and approval. You are the only perfect love. Let me be fulfilled by Your absolute loyalty.

All my soul: Jesus, show me how to strive after your glory. I have moments of shining goodness, but lately I have let worry and fear overtake me. Remind me Jesus:

Be at rest once more, o my soul, The Lord has been good to you.
Psalm 116:7

Even this suffering is bearable with You by my side.

All my Mind: Help me take captive my thoughts, Lord. When distractions pull my thoughts away from you, I succumb to Satan’s trap–dwelling on anger rather than Glory. Align my thoughts with yours.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Lord, You are so good. You are leading me through fire, but I feel hope. You have allowed reality to crush my expectations, but you have put new expectations in my heart.

I thought there was something I could do or say to force my life back on track. But I am in control of nothing—not even myself. You give self-control (Galatians 5:23). You give worth (Psalm 139:14). You give me a new future (Jeremiah 29:11).

A new day. Beginning with Your love, Your glory, Your light. I bask in You and feel satisfied. Be all I need, so I can love like You. Be mine, Jesus, because no one compares to you.

Heart. Soul. Mind.

Thinking about thinking

From Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest” today…

Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.

This is my struggle. Jesus, help me keep my thoughts on You and on all that “is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:6

Taking my thoughts captive is so hard.

I get angry and imagine myself able to tell someone off. Bad idea. Just gets me more angry.

Anger give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:27

I begin planning things God never intended for me and lose focus on the present.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21

Guard my mind, Lord. If I can take captive my thoughts, You promise me Peace.

Imagine the peace of a clear mind–unburdened by worry, guilt, insecurity or anger.

Beautiful Peace. Jesus, provide.

Amen.

AS YOU TRAVEL: Call on Him

The power of Christ–that power that raised Him from the dead–lives in you. With that amazing power, Christ empowers you in ALL things.

But the opposite is also true.

Without Christ, you can do NOTHING.

If you begin your day and forget to ask the Lord to lead you, then you are walking away from Him….encountering your day without accessing His Power.

If you begin a task without asking Him to bless it, you work for yourself or your boss, but you work without the power of Christ prospering you.

If you sit down with someone and neglect to ask Jesus to guide your words, thoughts, and deeds, then you sit before them in your own power and none of Jesus’.

And without Christ, what are you?

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Romans 7:18

If you aren’t consciously relying on Christ, then all you have at your disposal is your own flesh—weak and fallible.

On your own, you can do no good, think no good, receive nothing good.

Do not attempt a step, breath, or word without calling on the power of Christ that is at your disposal. He waits for you to call His name.

So the LORD waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Isaiah 30:18

WITH Christ, you can do ALL things.

Call on Him in the morning–in the daytime–in the dark night. Ask Him to guide your feet, heart, and mind. Jesus wants your attention, desires, and time. He wants to order your days. Let Him. Ask it of Him.

And He will make sure your moments glorify God.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

He will strengthen you.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

(I love you. I miss you. I praise God because His Spirit connects us as you are away.)

BUILDING THE HABIT OF THANKFULNESS: Hard Times

Click here to read how we began our study on BUILDING THE HABIT OF THANKFULNESS.

My babies, you know I’ve been having a hard time lately. I want this year to be easier than last year. I want to be home more with you and at work less. And then I got some news that made me upset.

But God is in control. Always. So, that means He knew what classes I would teach this year. He planned it.

For I know the plans I have for you” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11

But sometimes the path He leads us down is hard. We must learn to thank God even when things do not go our way.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. –Philippians 4:6

and…

[Give] thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….–Ephesians 5:20

When I said that I was “not satisfied” with my job, CSM said, “Maybe you need to decide to be satisfied FIRST, and then God will change the situation.”

You’re right, my girl. I need to be THANKFUL for even the hard times. Jesus still might not change the hard times, but maybe I will truly feel JOY and true THANKFULNESS if I bow at the feet of Jesus and thank Him even for the hard times. Even if my situation doesn’t change, perhaps my heart will.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Thank Jesus for 3 things that you really don’t feel thankful for–things you actually wish He would change for you. In THANKING God for them, perhaps we will feel REAL JOY.

Mine are:

1. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to teach at the same school again.
2. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me something new to teach.
3. Thank you, Jesus, for sending each of us to a different building during the school day.

Maybe I will really begin to feel better if I try to BE THANKFUL for all of that. It is good to have a job. It can be fun to teach something new. And with all of us in a different building this year, we can shine the light of Jesus in many corners of this city.

….How about you?? Can you think of 3 things to thank God for that are actually hard times or things you wish He would change??

BUILDING THE HABIT OF THANKFULNESS: An Introduction

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:5-7

Over this year, I’ve read Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. The point she makes is profound yet simple: A thankful attitude, a thankful posture, a thankful propensity brings us closer to Jesus.

He waits for us to see Him in all things and to come to Him with gratitude. When we stop being bitter and scared…when we see all things as a gift from God each day, the habit of thankfulness is built.

As we develop a thankful heart, we develop a true fear of the Lord and a true understanding of how even the hardships are blessings.

She recommends creating a list as she has done of 1000 gifts. What things–small and big–can you thank God for each day? She has challenged others to list gifts with her on her blog.

I have been listing my own, but this summer I am going to share my list and Ann’s challenge with my school-age children. Each summer, my children and I do a Bible Study together. Some have been fun and successful, some have been forced and painful. This summer, I will blog a few times a week on thankfulness and I am offering my girls a chance to comment and list their blessings each week.

Each week they will read along with you and think about what they are thankful for. I pray that through this summer, my family will build the habit of gratitude…and, for the Lord, we will be changed.

In plenty and in want

How did Paul REALLY learn to be content in all situations. The man was beaten, shipwrecked, blinded. Did he never complain? Did he never cry out, “Why me?”

He lived in plenty and in want.

I live in both depending on the hour. Plenty of family, but wanting solitude. Plenty of money, but wanting to be more generous. Plenty of time, but wanting a worthwhile pursuit.

And I’ve had real want: lacking hope, love, health. But probably not as wanting as Paul.

Paul said he had learned to rely on God’s strength. And yet…

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Philippians 4:14

The church sent gifts to Paul to help him in his want. Jesus provided the strength, but his friends still gave gifts.

Thank you to my friends whose gifts are precious. Lately His strength comes in the form of your gifts.

My in-laws sent me $200 just to help out this month. This weekend I practically moved in with a friend because both our husbands were gone for the week. I received beautiful printed Bible verses from another. And when my husband returned, he brought presents for all of us.

But it’s not the STUFF that I really need. What I WANT is peace.

Dear friends, your gifts ARE His strength. Your gifts bring me moments of PEACE. Through you, He buoys me.

Thank you for “sharing in my troubles.”