Love Is The Greatest

                                              

 “And now these three remains:

faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

Why is love the greatest of all? Because it has the power to transform lives, heal mental and physical challenges, satisfy the soul, direct our goals, comfort the mourning, beautify the world, soften the hardened heart…. There’s no end to what Love can do because “God is love” (1 John 4:8 KJV). 

And because “God is love,” God’s love is not a one-time gift given a couple millenniums ago. God’s love is ever-present. God’s love was with all the patriarchs and the prophets. It was with the shepherds on the night of Christ Jesus’ birth. And it is present and powerful today.

~ BibleWise.com

“YOU ARE LOVED”❤️

The Joy Of The Lord

 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was born, the angels announced “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). All who find Jesus know, with the shepherds of the nativity, the joy He brings. Even before His birth, Jesus had brought joy, as attested to in Mary’s song (Luke 1:47) and by John’s response to hearing Mary’s voice as he “leaped for joy” in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:44).

Jesus exemplified joy in His ministry. He was no glum ascetic; rather, His enemies accused Him of being too joyful on occasion (Luke 7:34). Jesus described Himself as a bridegroom enjoying a wedding feast (Mark 2:18–20); He “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Luke 10:21); He spoke of “my joy” (John 15:11) and promised to give His disciples a lifetime supply of it (John 16:24). Joy is reflected in many of Jesus’ parables, including the three stories in Luke 15, which mention “rejoicing in the presence of the angels” (Luke 15:10) and end with a joyful shepherd, a joyful woman, and a joyful father.

Nehemiah told the repentant Israelites that the joy of the Lord would be their strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The early church was characterized by gladness and the joy of the Lord (Acts 2:46; 13:52), and “joy in the Holy Spirit” is a distinguishing mark of the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17). Those who are part of the kingdom share in the kingdom’s delight.

~gotquestions.com

Stay In Faith

 “Be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.”

2 Timothy 2:1

“Christ grows our faith by revealing the truth to our hearts through the power of His Holy Spirit, and by providing concrete evidence of God’s power and goodness. Circumstances may go from bad to worse, we may endure suffering, and there may be times when the trials of life tempt to overtake us. But true faith not only perseveres through testing, but it also gains strength and makes us stronger during the process (James 1:3,4).”

~ christianity.com

God’s Plan For You

 “For I know the plans I have for you, 

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“We’re all encouraged by a leader who stirs us to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task he has given and will be with us all the way.  God is that kind of leader.  He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope.  As long as God, who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope.  This does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Peace

 “May we be in this world a ray of that light which shone forth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.” – Pope Francis

The second candle on the Advent wreath represents Peace. Like the first candle, it is also purple. Often called the “Bethlehem Candle,” the second Advent candle reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Mary gave birth to Jesus. Building on the meaning of the Prophecy Candle, this second candle recalls that after all of the division, destruction, and dispersion of the kingdom in the Old Testament, there might finally be peace on Earth – Jesus is coming, and so is his Kingdom of Peace. As we read in the quote from Pope Francis, this light of peace shone forth from Bethlehem for all the world. 

~ Hallow.com

Hope

 “Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” – C.S. Lewis

It is only fitting that the first candle on the Advent wreath represents Hope – the first Sunday of Advent not only leads us to anticipate the birth of Christ but celebrate the beginning of a new liturgical season as well. The first candle is purple, the primary color of Advent and a color symbolizing royalty. Sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle,” the first candle harkens us back to Isaiah’s foretelling of the birth of Christ and all of the promises God gave us in the Old Testament that would be fulfilled by the birth of Jesus. 

~ Hallow.com

Giving Thanks to God

 “Always giving thanks to God the Father

for everything, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:20

“When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks.  Take heart - in all things God works for the good if we love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).  Thank God, not for problems, but for the strength he is building in you through the difficult experience of your life.  You can be sure that God’s perfect love will see you through.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Reach Out To Christ

“Sea of Galilee”

“But when saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning 

to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Matthew 14:30

“Although we start out with good intentions, sometimes our faith falters.  This doesn’t necessarily mean we have failed.  When Peter’s faith faltered, he reached out to Christ, the only one who could help.  He was afraid, but he still looked to Christ.  When you are apprehensive about the trouble around you and doubt Christ’s presence or ability to help, you must remember that he is the only on who can really help.”

~ Life Application Study Bible 

 

God Arms Us With Strength

 “It is God who arms me with strength

and keeps my way secure.”

Psalm 18:32

“God doesn’t promise to eliminate challenges, instead he gives us strength to meet those challenges.  If he gave us no rough roads to walk, no mountains to climb, and no battles to fight, we would not grow.  He does not leave us alone with our challenges, however.  Instead he stands besides us, teaches us, and strengthens us to face them.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

The Lord Blesses Us

 “The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

“A blessing was one way of asking God’s divine favor to rest upon others.  The ancient blessing in these verses helps us understand what a blessing was supposed to do.  Its five parts conveyed hope that God would (1) bless and keep them (favor and protect);(2) make his face shine on them (be pleased); (3) be gracious (merciful and compassionate); (4) turn his face toward them (give his approval); (5) give peace.  When you ask God to bless others or yourselves, you are asking him to do these five things.  The blessing you offer will not only help the one receiving it, it will also demonstrate love, encourage others, and provide a model of caring to others.”

~ Life Application Study Bible 

Keeping An Open Mind

“...and everything is for God’s glory...”

Roman 11:36

“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend” ~  Henri Bergson

Keeping an open mind is one of the most difficult things to practice.

It means you are open to everyone and everything that comes your way, allowing yourself to embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, views, suggestions and interests.

You need to be unprejudiced, without stubbornness and flexible at all times.

I try to practice this in every situation and it makes life a hell of a lot easier and less complicated. Better yet it is fun to practice. Trying to understand someone’s point of view, even when you disagree or don’t like the person very much, can change and free your mind in a way you would have never expected.

I don’t claim to master this skill, but I do see great improvement and it makes me feel powerful having the ability to change my way of thinking and not to get stuck in a mindset that makes me frustrated, angry or helpless.

Keeping an open mind is one of the best tools I use in simplifying my life.
It doesn’t mean I believe or accept everything, but I do listen, observe, feel and try to comprehend every situation on my path. It has given me, saved me and helped me many times. Try it yourself.

~ simplyyourday.com. By Klaus Crow

Take Heart

 “Be strong and take heart, all who hope in theLord.”

Psalm 31:24

“... and wait on the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

“With these words he told his disciples to take courage, in spite of the inevitable struggles they would face, they would not be alone.  Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles either.  If we remember that ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father

will send in my name will teach you all things

and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26

“Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember what he had been teaching them.  This promise ensures the validity of the New Testament.  The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their perspectives.  We can all be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did.  The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way.  As we study the Bible, we can trust him to plant the truth in our mind, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when we stray from it.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

 

Gathering Together

 “For where two or three gather in my name,

there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20

The Scripture says that when you’re plugged into a community of faith, there is a blessing on your life that will cause you to bloom, to blossom, and to flourish. You will reach levels that you couldn’t reach on your own. This is true because Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.” How about when one hundred are gathered, or one thousand? We each bring God with us. In His presence is healing and the fullness of joy. Together, our faith and strength are multiplied.

Given so much trouble in the world today, more than ever we need to plant ourselves in the house of the Lord to draw strength and encouragement from one another. David says, “I love Your sanctuary, the place where Your glory shines.” As you gather together, God’s glory and favor will shine down on you. You have to make it a priority to be there. You were not created to do life on your own.

~ Joel Osteen Devotional 

God Refreshes Our Soul

 “The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.”

Psalm 19:7

Paul’s priority was to know Christ. The apostle spoke of counting all things as loss in comparison to His relationship with the Lord, and he was given spiritual blessings that surpassed anything the world had to offer. 

When we seek Christ through His Word, we too can expect the following spiritual blessings:  

• A Quiet Spirit. As we read and meditate on God’s Word, He restores our souls (Psalm 19:7). Then, instead of having stress and worry, we’ll experience peace of mind.  
• A Stronger Faith. Studying Scripture enlarges our view of God and gives us insight into His desires, ways, and will. The bigger the Lord becomes to us, the more we will trust Him in every circumstance.  
• A Purified Heart. God’s Word reveals our sins so we can repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). 
• A Renewed Mind. When we read Scripture and apply its principles, our mind will be renewed to think biblically about God, ourselves, and the world.  

Because Christ was the pursuit of his life, Paul knew joy amidst trials and received the strength to face turmoil and difficulty. These blessings are ours as well when knowing Jesus is our highest goal. 

~ In Touch devotionals - Charles Stanley

Bless The Lord Oh My Soul

 

Psalms 103:1-5 NIV

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

“Ten Thousand Reasons” song by Matt Redman

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CtlkbISFv84

An Olive Tree

 “But I am like an olive tree,

flourishing in the house of God; I trust

in God’s unfailing love forever and forever.”

Psalm 52:8

“With God by his side, David compared himself to an olive tree nourishing in the house of God.  Not only is an olive tree one of the longest-living trees, but a flourishing tree even has even greater longevity.

We read about the Mount of Olives; is evergreen and durable, and it’s leaves and branches are a symbol of peace.  Olive trees are rooted in Christ.

Trusting in God brings joy and peace that the world cannot understand or take away.  This allows a person to really live and flourish like well planted olive tree producing lots of fruit in his life.

Allow yourself to be strengthen by His Holy Spirit so that you can live the life that He has blessed you with.  You can live the abundant life that Jesus promised, flourishing, growing and moving forward.”

~anonymous 

Love Never Gives Up

 “Love never gives up, never loses faith,

is always hopeful, and 

endures through every circumstance.”

1Corinthians 13:7

God’s faithful love endures forever is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136. Demonstrations of God’s Faithfulness and what should be our response. Daily. Continually. Forever. The next day and the next day of our life should be giving thanks to the Lord because He is good! His Faithful love endures our lack of commitment, lack of faith, and lack of hope. His Faithful Love endures our doubt, worry and anxiety produced by fear. His Faithful Love endures our whining, grumbling and complaining. His Faithful Love endures our wandering hearts and minds set on worthless things when He offers us His Kingdom and a permanent living space in His Presence. We must make the choice to live in His Love today, the next day and the next constantly choosing His Love over every other thing in our life. Why? Because this is love…

~ Ithomason.wordpress.com

God Is Our Refuge

 “He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge.”

Psalm 91

“God is a shelter, a refuge when we are afraid. The writer’s faith in the Almighty God as Protector would carry him through all dangers and fears of life.  This should be a picture of our trust - trading all our fears for faith in him, no matter how intense our fears.  To do this we must “dwell” and “rest” with him.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

I Stand At The Door

 “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come.”

Revelation 3:20

“Jesus is knocking on the doors of our hearts every time we sense we should turn to him.  Jesus wants to have fellowship with us, and he wants us to open up to him.  He is patient and persistent in trying to get through us - not breaking and entering, but knocking.

Leave the door of your heart constantly open to God, and you won’t need to worry about hearing his knock.  Letting him in is your only for lasting fulfillment.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Believe

 “For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not

perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

“To “believe” is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God.  It means to put trust and confidence in Him that alone can save us.  It is to put Christ in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny.  Believing is both trusting his words as reliable, and relying on Him for the power to change.  If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours - and believe.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Be Strong and Courageous

 “Have I not commanded you?   Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the

Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

“When God commissioned Joshua, he was told three times to be strong and courageous.  Here Joshua was given the same kind of encouragement from the people.  Apparently, he took God’s message to heart, and found the strength and courage he needed in his relationship with God.  The next time you are afraid to do what you know is right, remember that strength and courage are readily available from God.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Your Strength

“You are my strength, I sing praises to you;

you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.”

Psalm 59:17

“I am your Strength.  The truth about Me especially precious on days when your in inadequacies are screaming at you, telling that you just can’t go on.  Knowing Me as your Strength is like having a guide who is always with you - showing the way forward, clearing away obstacles, empowering you to take the next step.  I hold you with my right hand, and I guide you with my counsel.  Since I am omniscient, knowing everything, My counsel provides the best wisdom imaginable.  So don’t fret about weaknesses.

~ Jesus Always Devotional by Sarah Young

 

An Open Mind

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…”

9 benefits of having an open mind:

1. Become enlightened. The Bible speaks of the “eyes of your understanding being enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18). A great truth about God is that He is open-minded, even with those who are close-minded towards Him. God is passionate about people, even those who deny His existence. He is excited when we discover our life’s purpose and passionately pursue it. Being spiritually enlightened requires that we be open to God’s word and vision for our lives. When we partner with God, we gain wisdom and understanding regarding our purpose on earth. Open-mindedness unlocks the door to purposeful living.
2. Learn and grow. Living with an open mind helps us to learn and grow. It empowers us to be proactive and solution-oriented, allowing every situation, circumstance, and person to be our teacher … this is when real growth and transformation happens.
3. Discover new opportunities. Some have said, “An open mind is a theatre of opportunities.” A person with a closed mind tends to see difficulties, not opportunities. An open mind seeks out opportunities and sees life as a basket of possibilities: every task becomes an opportunity to learn and to add value. With this mindset, life is full of promise.
4. Step out of our comfort zone. Being open-minded is one of the most difficult things to practice. Most of us are raised with certain belief systems and core values that keep us confined in familiar spaces, around familiar faces; when faced with conflicting ideas or beliefs, we may struggle to be accommodating and accepting. Adopting an open mindset forces us to step out of our comfort zones into unfamiliar places. This has the benefit of enlarging our sphere of influence, making our interactions with others more impactful.
5. Gain confidence. When faced with a daunting task, a close-minded person would respond, “I can’t;” an open-minded person would say, “Tis better to try and fail, then to have never tried at all.” With this attitude, each successful attempt builds confidence, until you start believing, “Nothing is truly impossible, after all!”
6. Gain humility. Living with an open mind gives you the confidence to say, “I don’t know.” Sometimes we confuse “not knowing” with mediocrity. Whenever I’ve admitted my vulnerabilities and been bold enough to say, “I don’t know,” I’ve discovered great freedom: liberty from needing to have all the answers and openness to new information and ideas.
7. Increase creativity. Natural creativity and open-minded thinking are like 2 peas in a pod. To be open-minded, our minds need the freedom to explore new territory. Creativity helps develop right-brain thinking, enabling us to think outside the box. Whenever possible, practice and develop your creativity: daydream, explore new life experiences, volunteer or participate in creative projects.
8. Develop new friendships. Seeking out new friendships and relationships requires a certain level of tolerance, openness, and acceptance. Open-minded people look at the heart of a person and not the outward appearance. They see people beyond their titles and labels. With an open mind, we’re more likely to meet new people with unconventional appearances and foreign accents, thereby expanding our networks and social circles.
9. Make life more fun. Having an open mind allows us to see the world as a vast place full of possibilities. It awakens curiosity and joie de vivre. Each day becomes this wonderful new adventure, making life more fun and enjoyable.

~ uwana.Wordpress.com 

Be Compassionate

 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love

one another, be compassionate and humble.”

1 Peter 3:8

Everywhere you go these days, people are hurting and discouraged, and many have broken dreams. They’ve made mistakes; their lives are in a mess. They need to feel God’s compassion and unconditional love. They don’t need somebody to judge and criticize them. They need somebody to bring hope, to bring healing, to show God’s mercy, to be there to encourage them, to take the time to listen and genuinely care. Our world is crying out for people with compassion, people who love unconditionally. The apostle Paul says that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. If you want to live your best life, you must keep your heart of compassion open to be kind, caring, gentle, and loving. You need to be on the lookout for people you can bless. You can make a difference in other peoples’ lives. When God puts love and compassion in your heart toward someone, follow that love. Don’t ignore it. Act on it. Somebody needs what you have. Be a person of compassion.

~Joel Osteen Devotionals 

Lean On Me

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and

lean not on your own understanding.”

Proverbs 3:5

The world has taught us that we are very capable of handling anything that comes our way. Many of the methods don’t include the power of God ⚡, but that of man. As a child of God, put your trust in Him instead of the many ways of the world (Psalm 20:7). 

When you trust in God with all your heart, it means that you leave no room for doubt. You believe what He says because you know He is always right and will never deceive you. God sees the bigger picture and therefore knows what lies ahead of you and what you don’t see. Trust in God in every situation and relationship in your life.

Trusting God comes naturally when you know Him and how He works. It’s hard to trust someone you don’t know and can’t rely on. God is trustworthy and faithful and has proven Himself throughout the Bible. When you spend time to read the scriptures, you will know God and His ways and be familiar with His will. 🧐

God expects that you will trust Him with all your heart, not just a part of it ❤. When we don’t trust Him wholeheartedly, we question His abilities and tuck in a Plan B, just in case He doesn’t come through. Put your complete trust in God knowing He won’t let you down.

Many times we try to figure things out in a situation yet we don’t always have all the information. The second part of verse 5 tells us not to depend on our understanding of things because we could be wrong 😕. You may have misinterpreted someone's words or underestimated a certain danger or threat. 

We love being in control and tend to stay away from anything that makes us lose our grasp of any situation. That is why Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still,” meaning that we should stop striving to do things in our strength. 

~ lordsguidance.com