I am taking a break from blogging for a short while to catch up on some things that need tending too.


I'll leave you with this verse that I was enjoying this morning:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

{2 Timothy 1:7}

I hope that this verse will be as helpful to you today, as it has been to me. 

Amazing love

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour's blood?
Dies He for me who caused His pain?
For me who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all: th'Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above
So free, so infinite His grace--
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray--
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

{words: charles wesley, 1738}

{music: thomas campbell,  1825}

no fear in love

There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
-1 John 4:18-

The LORD did not set his love upon you... 

because ye were more in number than any people... 

But because the LORD loved you. 

{Deuteronomy 7:7-8}

God loved Israel simply because he loved them. Nothing past or present is good in me that would be deserving of God's mercy, but He love me in spite of everything I have ever done and all my sin. He loved me so much that he sent his only Son to die for me- what an amazing love!

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.

I John 3:16

From Choice Gleanings 2012
"Love is powerful. It is attractive. Everyone longs for it. Yet for all the attention it is given, defining love is difficult. But when our definitions fail, God points is to the personification of love, Christ laid down His life for us. .. Take a moment and by faith perceive again that scene at Calvary. Refresh yourself with a view of love in its purest distillation." S. McEachern

To Calvary, Lord, in Spirit now our grateful souls repair;
To dwell upon Thy dying love, and taste its sweetness there. (E. Denny)

1 John 4

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. 

If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

{1 John 4:11-12}

What. love! 

Amados, si Dios nos amado así, debemos también nosotros amarnos unos a otros. 

Nadie ha visto jamás a Dios. 

Si nos amamos unos a otros, Dios permanece en nosotros,

 y su amor se ha perfeccionado en nosotros. 

{I Juan 4:11-12}

Love through me, Love of God

Love through me, Love of God;

There is no love in me. 

O Fire of love, light Thou the love

That burns perpetually. 

Flow through me, Peace of God;

Calm River, flow until

No wind can blow, no current stir

A ripple of self-will. 

Shine through me, Joy of God; 

Make me like Thy clear air

That Thou dost pour Thy colors through, 

As though it were not there. 

O blessed Love of God,

That all may taste and see

How good Thou art, once more I pray:

Love through me--even me.

{amy carmichael}

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
{1 John 3:1}

Christ died for us

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

{Romans 5:8}

Do you know your sins forgiven and that you are on the way to heaven? God loved the world so much that He sent His ONLY Son into the world to died for us. There is no love and truth greater than this assurance. 

Greater love hath no man than this

{John 15: 9-14}

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

He loves me anyway

I am the thorn in Your crown,
But you love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow,
But you love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist,
But you love me anyway
I am Judas' kiss,
But you love me anyway

See I am the man who yellow out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes, then I turned away with this smile on my face,
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
Yes, then alone in the night,
I still call out to You,
So ashamed of my life,
But You love me anyway... O God, how You love me
Yes, You love me.

Sidewalk Prophets- You Love Me Anyway video link

What a great God we have- One who despite all that we have done still loves us. To Him I give thanks. 

For God is LOVE {1 John 4:8}

Valentines Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

<3

*an e-card for you*

Dayspring card

I hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day and that you will remember the One who first loved you! :)

He who loved me

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

{Galatians 2:20}

*I can't help it... the trees were nothing but beautiful with the covering of snow on the branches!*

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. 

{Psalm  63:3}


*a glimpse of the beauty of last week's snow*

God commended his love

But God commendeth his LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Do you know your sins forgiven and that you on the way to heaven? It is a blessed hope and knowing that Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins, without a cost from us! :)

God is love

"God is love. 

Therefore, love.

Without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination, 

love."

{henry drummond}

Champion of Love

Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention? I want to introduce to you

In this corner of the good and the right, stands a champion robed in white

His height exceeds the heavens, His weight outweighs the world

His reach reaches everywhere, His age is evermore

Chorus:

He is higher than the highest, greater than the great, 

No one will ever take His crown away,

He's more mighty than the mightiest, He reigns from above

He's the all-time undisputed, undefeated champion, of love. 

He left His hometown to enter this arena, to raise His hands in victory for me

An angry crowd crucified this king who wore their crown, as they gladly watched the champion going down,

Oh but I will never count Him out, for I'm a witness of 

The day He rose to reclaim the title "Champion of Love."

How deep the Father's love

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all m heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

The love of God is more than tongue can ever try to explain. He loves us without a cost. He sent His ONLY Son to die on the cross for my sin- what a love. Do I love Him more each day?

El amor de Dios

Con que  pagaremos amor tan inmeso,
Que diste Tu vida por el pecador?
En cambio recibes la ofrenda humilde,
La ofrenda humilde, Señor Jesucristo, de mi corazon.

Y cuando la noche extiende su mano
Mis ojos en llanto en ti fijare
Alzando mis ojos vere las estrellas
Yo se que tras ellas, cual Padre amoroso, tu velas por mi.

No puedo pagarte con oro ni plata
El gran sacrificio que hiciste por me
No tengo que darte por tanto amarme
Recibe este canto, mezclado con llanto, y mi corazon.

Fernando Ortega (video)

Un recuerdo del amor de Dios.

Often I have heard people say, "How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!" Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. "No, Corrie," said Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love towards those who fear Him." Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of God's love available- there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love- whatever the circumstances."

-Corrie Ten Boom-

If I were in their situation would I be able to say the same thing about God's grand love? Would I trust Him enough to remember that He has not forgotten about me when I enter trials and tribulations? May I be so in love with my Saviour that I may always remember his steadfast love for me. In whatever circumstance, God's love will always be there. 

God so loved the world

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him,
should not perish, but have eternal life. 

John 3:16

His only Son he gave- to save an undeserving person as me. Because of this Son I KNOW for sure that I am on my way to heaven. What a glorious thought it is to know that I will be with Jesus in a soon coming day! :)

Love of Christ

31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,  who also maketh intercession for us. 

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, 

39. 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 8:31-39

It is amazing to think upon the unending, boundless love of God. There is NOTHING that can separate us from His love! To know that I am always loved by the King of Glory even when things are hard or when I make mistakes is a such a wonderful thought! :)

Ephesians 3

That God may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Ephesians 3: 17-19

Enjoy your Friday! :)

Happy Birthday Alyssa :)

Happy 14th Birthday ALYSSA!

 May you enjoy another year of life and the many changes that will take place! 

You may be taller than me by a long shot... but you are still younger than me :)

Happy Birthday :)

The love of God is greater far!

1. The love of God is greater far
   Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
   It goes beyond the highest star,
   And reaches to the lowest hell;
   The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
   God gave His Son to win;
   His erring child He reconciled,
   And pardoned from his sin.
   • Refrain:
     Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
     How measureless and strong!
     It shall forevermore endure—
     The saints’ and angels’ song.
2. When hoary time shall pass away,
   And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
   When men who here refuse to pray,
   On rocks and hills and mountains call,
   God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
   All measureless and strong;
   Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
   The saints’ and angels’ song.
3. Could we with ink the ocean fill,
   And were the skies of parchment made,
   Were every stalk on earth a quill,
   And every man a scribe by trade;
   To write the love of God above
   Would drain the ocean dry;
   Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
   Though stretched from sky to sky.
4. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

No Greater Love

It is hard to believe that it is February when I can walk outside without a heavy jacket on. This winter has been very mild for which I am personally thankful... I mean- who gets two 65 degree days together at the end of January in Nebraska!?  I see there is snow in the forecast for this weekend, however, I shall not complain about the cold and snow after the week of BEAUTIFUL weather we've had- instead I will curl up with my electric blanket and sip a hot cup of chai tea! :)

February seems to be a month centered around Valentine's day and love. At the start of February I couldn't help but think of the Father's love for me because there is no greater love imaginable :) God is the God of love and as the quote from St. Augustine says

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."

-- what an amazing thing that He can love us so much that he sent his only begotten Son for us.

(John 3:16) 

Each day (since it is a short month + leap day this year) I hope to share a short something of the love of God. Today, I'd like to share with you a song I love listening to- Boundless Love... He has a love that is never ending which is something that is hard to fathom in 2012. Enjoy... :)

sung by The Cathedrals

or by Legacy Five

Verse 1

There is not a mother, sister, friend or brother

Loves the way that Jesus can.

He proved His love for me when He died on Calvary

He gave His life for fallen man.

Chorus

His love is a boundless love

and it reaches down and touches me

his love is an endless love

that will last thru all eternity

Verse 2

Jesus wants to love you, there is none above you

You are precious in his sight.

He will never fail you when the doubts assail you

He’ll be with you day and night.

Enjoy God's love in what is left of the 1st of February 2012!