Hello there,
It really and honestly is not intentional that it happens to be February and I am talking about love. It has been something that I have been reading about and that our pastor recently preached about and that someone in my Bible study did a speech about. Seriously in the last 2 weeks it has come up a lot in my personal and spiritual life. This being said I figured I'd share what it's been about for me.
I mentioned the book Crazy Love in a post 3 years back as it was the first time I had read the book. I actually took 4hr 30min one day this week to read it again. I think that is the 3rd or 4th time I've read the book (never in one sitting like that). That book has such a perfect message that really challenges my faith and walk with Christ. It challenges the type of church member I want to be and the type of Christian I want to be.
I watched a couple of videos this week that are from the author, Francis Chan, and got so excited as I listened to his words. I then took the time to go and look up various scriptures that a lady in the Bible study listed off and although they were all familiar passages I took time to meditate on them as I focused on love. I also listened to music and just took time to praise God because he is the one that gives this love and showed us this love. My time of prayer was upbeat and not emotional because it was so nice to just talk about His love.
I got to experience an inner peace for a couple of days that was so enjoyable. Of course I have to deal with people still and I am still very flawed so as soon as something happened that I did not like I got upset and too easily showed opposite traits of love. Then I was upset because I had JUST been in such a great place and instead of just showing love and staying in that great place I allowed myself to succumb to something miniscule. So of course I had to allow myself to be checked and put back into that place. I look forward to the day when I will stay focused on things above and the unseen and not dwell or be bothered by what is in front of me.
Here are some of the passages that I meditated on that were so great for me...
Jeremiah 31:3; John 15:9,10; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:35-39; 1 John 4:7-12; Matthew 5:44-48; John 13:34,35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Chapter 8 of Francis Chan's, Crazy Love, is my favorite chapter as it is talking about being "obsessed" with Jesus. These are the highlights...
-People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.
-Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth.
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people.
-People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do...
-A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
- A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.
-People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
-People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationships with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week...
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God.
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying "Thank You!" to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.
I know that his was long but God is good!!! I just really wanted to share the blessing I received by studying and praying.
God's Love,
Camille
We Are Church- Church Together- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4ZBkQl3XRs
Marriage In Light of Eternity- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFGIz8v4bM
What Are You Living For- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86dsfBbZfWs
It really and honestly is not intentional that it happens to be February and I am talking about love. It has been something that I have been reading about and that our pastor recently preached about and that someone in my Bible study did a speech about. Seriously in the last 2 weeks it has come up a lot in my personal and spiritual life. This being said I figured I'd share what it's been about for me.
I mentioned the book Crazy Love in a post 3 years back as it was the first time I had read the book. I actually took 4hr 30min one day this week to read it again. I think that is the 3rd or 4th time I've read the book (never in one sitting like that). That book has such a perfect message that really challenges my faith and walk with Christ. It challenges the type of church member I want to be and the type of Christian I want to be.
I watched a couple of videos this week that are from the author, Francis Chan, and got so excited as I listened to his words. I then took the time to go and look up various scriptures that a lady in the Bible study listed off and although they were all familiar passages I took time to meditate on them as I focused on love. I also listened to music and just took time to praise God because he is the one that gives this love and showed us this love. My time of prayer was upbeat and not emotional because it was so nice to just talk about His love.
I got to experience an inner peace for a couple of days that was so enjoyable. Of course I have to deal with people still and I am still very flawed so as soon as something happened that I did not like I got upset and too easily showed opposite traits of love. Then I was upset because I had JUST been in such a great place and instead of just showing love and staying in that great place I allowed myself to succumb to something miniscule. So of course I had to allow myself to be checked and put back into that place. I look forward to the day when I will stay focused on things above and the unseen and not dwell or be bothered by what is in front of me.
Here are some of the passages that I meditated on that were so great for me...
Jeremiah 31:3; John 15:9,10; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:35-39; 1 John 4:7-12; Matthew 5:44-48; John 13:34,35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Chapter 8 of Francis Chan's, Crazy Love, is my favorite chapter as it is talking about being "obsessed" with Jesus. These are the highlights...
-People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.
-Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth.
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people.
-People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do...
-A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
- A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.
-People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
-People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationships with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week...
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God.
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying "Thank You!" to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.
I know that his was long but God is good!!! I just really wanted to share the blessing I received by studying and praying.
God's Love,
Camille
We Are Church- Church Together- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4ZBkQl3XRs
Marriage In Light of Eternity- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFGIz8v4bM
What Are You Living For- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86dsfBbZfWs
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