accepted in the Beloved...

 

People who know they are Beloved see things others don’t. In this Scripture, the word “Beloved” (agapao in Greek) speaks especially of love as based on evaluation and choice, a matter of will and action. “Beloved” is in the perfect tense, which in this context, conveys the idea of permanence and speaks of the Father having always loved the Son. Jesus Christ is the One Who is ever in the state of being loved by the Father, and where are saved sinners? In the Beloved.

Many years ago, I heard Elisabeth Elliot open her Gateway To Joy radio show with these comforting words of Scripture, "‘You are loved with an everlasting love.’ That's what the Bible says. ‘And underneath are the everlasting arms.’ This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot…” I came to a place in my life where I wanted, more than anything else, to know and love God more. God is so inconceivably good. He’s not looking for perfection. He already saw it in Christ. He’s looking for affection. That’s why every lasting change will invariably be a change of heart. He’ll even supply the heart, if we’ll ask Him…Lord Jesus, give me a heart to know you and love you more, believing that I am accepted in the Beloved...

 Henri Nouwen, the famous author, once gave a postcard print of Rembrandt’s painting pictured here, Return of the Prodigal, to individuals who came to hear him speak. He asked them to look at the hands of father—one hand looks more masculine and strong, and the other hand looks more feminine and gentle. Recently, my husband and I attended a Chris Tomlin concert and heard a short message during the concert by pastor Louie Giglio on this Scripture from Luke 15. He started his message by stating that the word “prodigal” means “lavish,” although the son was lavish in his lifestyle, the father was also lavish in his love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and acceptance. What a wonderful way to illustrate the unconditional love God has for all of us prodigals, full of grace and truth, His open arms saying, You are my Beloved...

Take a few minutes to watch this powerful music video, When God Ran...

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans  8:38-39 

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 

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.—I John 4:10 

We love because he first loved us.—I John 4:19

Was this encouraging to you? Please feel free to leave a comment in the box below, I'd love to hear from you!

Linking up with HolleyGerth's Coffee for Your Heart as an encourager.

it's always sunset to sunrise with Jesus

The chorus of this old hymn came on the radio the other day…it took me back to a time in my life when we would sing this in our youth missions organization in my church…

For the darkness shall turn to the dawning,

And the dawning to noonday bright; 

Then Christ's great Kingdom shall come on Earth, 

The Kingdom of love and light.

The more I pondered these lyrics, the more I realized a subtle Truth contained within them…it’s always sunset to sunrise with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…darkness to dawn. He walks with us through our darkness into the dawn. From sunset to sunrise, through the darkest periods of our life, Jesus is with us, He came into our darkness to bring His light, His glory, His power.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. (Isaiah 9:2)

When Jesus walks with us out of darkness into His marvelous light, He wants us to tell others that there is hope for them. We have a Great Physician, a Savior who has transformed and healed our lives. Ask Him to give you His heart to see people set free from their sins and sorrows and to renew your desire to tell others of his life-changing power. Then, be His willing vessel to a waiting world. Our lives in our earthly bodies must be captured by the revelation of God’s unconditional love for us, demonstrated in the life, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus. This love is not merely a future hope. It is a present reality—now!  Just as light displaces darkness, Christ in us will displace what needs to die as we focus our attention on Him.

In darkness there is no choice. It is light that enables us to see the differences between things; and it is Christ who gives us light. Augustus Hare (1792–1834)

Lord Jesus, thank You that it’s always sunset to sunrise with You. Thank You for walking with me through my darkest nights, shedding Your light on my life to show me that I needed You, my Great Physician, to heal my woundedness. Thank You for calling me to come to You and for Your tender mercies in my life. Lord Jesus, give me Your heart for those who are hurting, sick, and lost in sin, just as Your heart reached out to me in my time of greatest need.

Was this encouraging to you? Please feel free to leave a comment in the box below, I'd love to hear from you!

Linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart as an encourager.

You're Loved

It is such a blessing to link up with Holley Gerth each week in offering up a little Coffee for Your Heart, her weekly encouragement challenge for 2014. The writing prompt for this week is simply this: “You’re Loved”

Many years ago, I used to hear Elisabeth Elliot open her Gateway To Joy radio show with these words, "‘You are loved with an everlasting love.’ That's what the Bible says. ‘And underneath are the everlasting arms.’ This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot…” Those Scriptures remind me, "You're Loved."

I came to a place in my life where I wanted, more than anything else, to know and love God more. God is so inconceivably good. He’s not looking for perfection. He already saw it in Christ. He’s looking for affection. That’s why every lasting change will invariably be a change of heart. He’ll even supply the heart, if we’ll ask Him. To know Him is to love Him...to know and believe, "You're Loved."

Henri Nouwen, the famous author, once gave a postcard print of Rembrandt’s painting pictured below, Return of the Prodigal, to individuals who had come to hear him speak. He asked them to look at the hands of father—one hand masculine and strong, and the other hand feminine and gentle. What a wonderful way to illustrate the unconditional love God has for all of us prodigals, full of grace and truth, His open arms saying, “You’re Loved.”

Take a few minutes to watch this powerful music video about the prodigal son called, When God Ran, He ran to His son saying, "You're Loved."

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans  8:38-39 

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 

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.—I John 4:10 

We love because he first loved us.—I John 4:19 

I pray this Coffee For Your Heart post has been encouraging to you, if it has been, please share your heart with me in the comments below, I’d love to hear your thoughts…