I have often taken things for granted. Or maybe I didn’t know how great I had it until a later time. Either way, it’s an interesting exercise to take a look at your life and be thankful for the things that we are blessed with. It’s especially good when we start to think we have it so bad with either a stressful day at work or when we get sick. We, or should I say I, start to feel bad for myself. There are so many people out in the world that don’t have any idea where their next meal will come from, or if their house will be taken from them, or if their loved one will make it through their battle with cancer. I don’t think it’s because Thanksgiving is around the corner, but it won’t hurt to start being more thankful for the blessings that God has given me.
To start, I am incredibly thankful for family. My family. They are so loving and faithful to be there for me when I need them. I am thankful for the love of my life Ben. He is the greatest and continues to show me more and more love than I deserve. I am so thankful for friends that I can truly call friends. I think it’s great to be able to still have connections with people even if you don’t see them all the time (although I would like to). I am thankful for my job and for Ben’s job. Sometimes it’s hard to go away on trips and be away from the people I love, but I truly do love my job. I’m thankful for the trials in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am. Although I have to say, I haven’t faced anything like a lot of people I know.
If I wasn't thankful, how would I know I am blessed? I have so much to be thankful for!
And in all of these blessings, I know I have one person to thank. Jesus. My Jesus…who sacrificed himself for ME. He was thinking about me when he came down from heaven and he was thinking about me on that cross.
“16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:16-20
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Surrender to Love
Surrender to Love
“Like loving parents who can look at their children with disappointment that in no way dilutes their love, the God in whose image such parents are made loves us with a love that is not dependent on our behavior. If at least some humans can do this, how dare we question God’s ability to do the same?”
This is a quote that stood out to me the most in the first chapter of Surrender to Love by David Benner. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that I know love me no matter what I do. Yes, they probably have been disappointed with me, but I have never felt like their love was in some way revoked or lessened. I think because of my parents I have been able to grasp the love Christ has for me isn’t conditional on my behavior. Yes, He may be disappointed and I know I have let Him down, but I still feel the love. I still can go to Him and know I have a big set of arms waiting for me wide open.
God is so good. I can’t even begin to express how deep that statement goes. I know that I don’t deserve it at all (which is God’s expression of grace) and I need to put forth a better effort in getting to know the God who loves me in every circumstance and situation.
I am going to try to blog about my experience with this book and what stands out to me. I’m pretty bad with finishing books and I hope this goal to write about it on my blog will help me push through so I can share all the amazing insights of God’s love here. Know that God loves you. I know it’s a hard one to grasp for some, but I’m learning that if we surrender to His love, we will find a huge relief in the way we view God.
God Bless!
“Like loving parents who can look at their children with disappointment that in no way dilutes their love, the God in whose image such parents are made loves us with a love that is not dependent on our behavior. If at least some humans can do this, how dare we question God’s ability to do the same?”
This is a quote that stood out to me the most in the first chapter of Surrender to Love by David Benner. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that I know love me no matter what I do. Yes, they probably have been disappointed with me, but I have never felt like their love was in some way revoked or lessened. I think because of my parents I have been able to grasp the love Christ has for me isn’t conditional on my behavior. Yes, He may be disappointed and I know I have let Him down, but I still feel the love. I still can go to Him and know I have a big set of arms waiting for me wide open.
God is so good. I can’t even begin to express how deep that statement goes. I know that I don’t deserve it at all (which is God’s expression of grace) and I need to put forth a better effort in getting to know the God who loves me in every circumstance and situation.
I am going to try to blog about my experience with this book and what stands out to me. I’m pretty bad with finishing books and I hope this goal to write about it on my blog will help me push through so I can share all the amazing insights of God’s love here. Know that God loves you. I know it’s a hard one to grasp for some, but I’m learning that if we surrender to His love, we will find a huge relief in the way we view God.
God Bless!
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