Life-Changing Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love never stops loving…

Beloved, I never stop loving you. Regardless of your choices, actions, thoughts and all the moments you fall short, My love remains the same. My hope for you is steadfast, and I find you inherently worthy of love no matter the decisions you make or whether other people seem to find you so. My love for you is eternal and unconditional, and you are made in My image.

You were created not just to be loved, but to love – without reserve. You may hate choices or be disappointed in situations, but refuse to let your love – based on the inherent nature of each person and the way I created them – to change. Be steadfast. Hold to the truth of who I made them. Expect that, prophesy it. Be relentless in prayer, and lavish love – and do so without strings or contingencies. Love like that is life-changing. Continue reading “Life-Changing Love”

Pour Out from Your Overflow

Psalm 33:2 (VOICE) Worship the Eternal with your instruments, strings offering their praise; write awe-filled songs to Him on the 10-stringed harp.

Beloved, use whatever is at your disposal to make a joyful noise. I AM less concerned with proficiency than heart, so simply pour out from your overflow the joy and worship you have for Me, may your love shine forth on words and notes so sweet unto My ear. May your praise be a fragrant offering and your worship as incense before My throne.

Make your praise glorious, worthy of the King of Kings. Like the widow’s mite, your all will be enough – you and your praise will be accepted when offered with clean hands and a pure heart. Ascend the heights with Me, beloved, lost in the glory of My praise. Watch life and joy pour forth as the flame on the altar burns brightly.

Psalm 66:1-2 (ASV) Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth: Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious.

As You Desire to Receive, Give

Matthew 7:12 (VOICE) This is what our Scriptures come to teach: in everything, in every circumstance, do to others as you would have them do to you.

Beloved, extend grace where you would desire to receive it. Extend forgiveness where you would hope to receive it. Extend love where you see it is needed. Refuse to withhold the blessing it is in your power to give. Generously expect the best, assume positive intent, and listen for the motivations of the heart.

Be known for your grace. Be known for your kindness. Be known as one who is fair and loving. Allow the fruit of My Spirit to pour forth from you without hindrance feeling no need to judge or criticize, but rather allowing My Spirit to be the One to convict and bring change – just as you desire to receive, give.

Steadfastly Believe the Best

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love…never stops believing the best for others…

Beloved, continually believing the best of those around you in the face of evidence to the contrary doesn’t make you gullible or foolish, it makes you hope-filled. Catch My vision of who each individual is and hold fast to that knowledge, refusing to be swayed into believing something different.

Align with My heart for them and operate from an expectation of that good. Prophesy and call it forth. Pray for them that it might be manifest. And through it all love them, extend grace to them, and steadfastly believe the best of them. Continue reading “Steadfastly Believe the Best”

Being a Grateful Child of Mine

Psalm 107:8 (VOICE) May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal in honor of His loyal love And all the wonders He has performed for humankind!

Beloved, what I have done is more than enough. That’s not to say I won’t do more, but it is a reminder to choose gratitude over greed, thanksgiving over longing. Choose to be content with what you have already been given.

Refuse to operate from a place of spoiled entitlement. There is difference between standing in faithful expectation and pouting like a child because your prayers haven’t yet been answered.

Choose well. Who would you bless: someone you’d already gifted who quickly cast aside their blessing to extend their hand for more? Or the one grateful for your gift and appreciative of its blessing in their life?

You woke up this morning, that is a gift. You are breathing, that is a gift. Look around you, see and acknowledge all I’ve done, for I love My children. Bless Me by seeing and acknowledging the outpouring of that love, by being a grateful child of Mine. Continue reading “Being a Grateful Child of Mine”

Weightless in Him

{my heart cries} I will seek You, God. I choose You. Regardless of circumstance. Regardless of the cost. I choose You because You are worth it all. You are so good and Your love exceeds my understanding.

{He responds} I will meet you, beloved. As you step out in faith, placing all your trust in Me, I will meet you there. I AM faithful and My heart for you is true. Rest in Me.

{feeling His hand extended toward me, I look at it – so large, plenty big to handle anything that might come against me or give me cause for concern – and I place my hand in His. I feel Him gently pull me along side Him and the closer I get I feel lighter and lighter until I am weightless by His side. Aligned with Him. Trusting in Him. Yielded to His lead. Resting in His loving care of me.}

1 Peter 5:7 (VOICE) Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

Complete in Me

1 Chronicles 28:20 (VOICE) Be strong, courageous, and effective. Do not fear or be dismayed. I know that the Eternal God, who is my God, is with you. He will not abandon you or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the temple of the Eternal.

Beloved, I have not given you a spirit of fear. So when all seems like it’s swirling around you, refuse to be overwhelmed. Instead press into Me, the King of Peace – shalom, the peace that wars against chaos – and allow Me to be your rest. I AM good, and kind, and I love you.

Allow My light to penetrate the fog that would overwhelm you, and choose to bask in My glory. With eyes fixed on Me remind yourself that I always finish what I start and I will strengthen you to accomplish all that you’ve been called to. Not one thing stolen, not one thing missing, you are complete in Me.

Nourish Yourself Wisely

Amos 5:14 (AMP) Seek (long for, require) good and not evil, that you may live; And so may the Lord God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!

Beloved, hunger and thirst for Me and for the things of Me and the things that please Me. Seek that which is good and perfect and true, what is godly and beautiful and righteous, and what is holy, a blessing, and brings glory to My name.

Water the seed of righteousness within you. Refuse to be drawn in by things that are evil or the ways of the wicked. Have eyes to see and ears to hear that you might rightly divide the holy from the profane, the worthy from the unworthy, and that which is good from that which is evil.

Align with Me. Run your race by My side. Choose the side of victory and life. Beloved, that which you feed will grow. Would you indulge your sinful nature? Your fleshly desires? Or your spirit man? Nourish yourself wisely. Satisfy yourself in Me.

Choose Joy

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Beloved, choose joy for it is not based on circumstance. It is found in My presence. It is always there for you and it strengthens you. Literally. It builds you up and heals your heart – and it is even healing to your body.

Refuse to be tempted to bitterness, resentment, anger, or hopelessness. Rather shift your heart to focus on that which is good – clinging to the truth of My promises in the face of opposition and being steadfast in joy when confronted with trials.

Joy is a choice. Cling to gratitude regardless of circumstance, and shift the atmosphere with your laughter for I AM good. That truth always remains. So beloved, be intentional to always choose joy. It is contagious. A blessing that spreads. Be a catalyst. Choose joy. Continue reading “Choose Joy”

Love as You Have Been Loved

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love joyfully celebrates honesty…

Beloved, rejoice in what is good. Celebrate integrity. Encourage those around you to walk in what pleases Me and is righteous, not out of some legalistic sense of morality or a sense of superiority resulting from your view of your personal behavior, but birthed from a desire to honor and bless Me and for all people to be blessed by walking in a way that aligns with My word.

Lead by example. Rather than trying to drag someone who is intent on doing wrong kicking and screaming from the shadows, simply shine your light unapologetically and allow the beauty of its rays to draw others to its warmth. Shine, beloved. Love as you have been loved. Continue reading “Love as You Have Been Loved”