Monday, February 13, 2023

A CHOICE to LOVE

Little Barbie's conversations with God have been heard ever since she cried out as a child.  Her heavenly Father listened and accepted her plea to belong to Him. He was aware of all her needs and He legally adopted little Barbie and gave her the keys to His kingdom. Since she accepted Jesus Christ, as her Lord, the Authority of her life, she has never walked alone, or felt her Father was not listening.  Because she trusts that Her Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ever present, she hears His voiced encouragements in the Bible, she listens to what the Spirit is saying through words of encouragement, and she is guided through open doors that show her His Ways.  Barbie relies on her intimate relationship with God and she depends on the Holy Spirit's revelation of how particular scriptures apply to her journey.  She prayed and trusted that God heard her when she requested:  " God, I pray that I will grow in my relationship with You so much that when You speak, I will immediately recognize Your voice and respond, willingly, without reservation." 
Barbie "seeks" Her Father's will and to get His best for her, she denies her personal desires, so that she can accept His plan for her life. "Not my will be done, but Thy will be done." She seeks to please her Father and not seek the approval of others.. This has never been easy, and she has failed many times, however, by the constant grace and mercy of God, Barbie has been convicted to confess her goofs and receive her Father's compassion and forgiveness and work out the gift of her salvation. In her new life in Christ she has learned NOT to trust her feelings, but to deny herself and rely on the Word of God, and the nudge from the Spirit within her. As He promised, He shows her the Way and where He is already working, and she chooses to join Him in His work. She loves her Father above all else and she trusts Him, no matter how unprepared she may feel to WALK this WAY.
IDEALLY, through prayer, the reading of the Word, and patient deliberation, when she is at peace in her heart and mind, and as she remains in continuing communication with the Father, she
confidently proceeds according to God's will. She is completely fulfilled in her love relationship with God and she gladly obeys because she trusts that what He asks her to do is best.  God has always faithfully provided all she needs.  He feeds her body, nourishes her soul and Jesus clothed her with His righteousness. Barbie would rather have the love of Jesus than the imperfect love, performance applause or fading approval of man.  She knows that she is an ordinary girl through which God can accomplish extraordinary things.  Therefore, Barbie does not fret or fear life in this world, or going alone to a foreign country, or being rejected or laughed at. She values eternity, not her short time on earth.  Barbie’s life as a daughter of the King of Kings is shaped by her choices to please Him. She has allowed God to develop her character through various trials.  No matter the pain of the circumstance, the struggle did not change her love for God, it only increased her reliance upon Him.  Barbie is convinced that God's 
Word, and His promises are the Truth, and the Way because she has personally encountered Jesus. His faithfulness over the years to prosper her, and not harm her, is her reality.  She considers all her profits in this life as a loss compared to the unsurpassed greatness of experiencing God through her loving relationship with Jesus Christ her Lord.  Barbie died to herself and was spiritually born again and given the personal knowledge of the Holy Spirit.  She seeks to remain God-centered and not self-centered by placing her complete confidence "in Him" not in her education or skill.
She thanks God for all that He initiates, because she knows that He finishes everything He starts.   Barbie knows that His ways are not her ways, and so if what He asks her to do, seems impossible, then it is most assuredly from the Father. His plan of salvation still boggles the human mind.  His Son, Jesus was rejected, laughed at, mocked and beaten, and He chose to die, so that she could live “in Him” sealed, protected and used forever in this world, and throughout eternity. Barbie is enabled to love God with the love He first gave her, because she believed that Jesus, the Son of God came down to rescue her.  Barbie purposely invests her life, time and provided resources into the thing that will last, her love relationship with God. This investment will never perish or pass away.  Jesus is at the door of your heart, knocking.  Do NOT resist the impulse to surrender.
Open the door to your heart and invite Him in. Enjoy coming home to the Father.  Relax into eternal life "in Him", now, today...NOW is when eternal life with Jesus can begin.  Be still and know that Jesus is God and that wherever you are, He is.  Whatever you are feeling, whatever has you worried, He knows.  He is your divine Comforter.  He is approachable, and available 24/7.  Know that He is always glad to hear from you and He wants to transform your mind, your heart and your perceptions about who He is.  Allow yourself to be lifted up and carried by the Father and trust that He will never drop you, or forsake you.  You need never to be alone, or feel unwanted again. So what is love? God is love. How does one come to love a God that one cannot see? In your own language, ask God to answer all your questions. When you realize that nothing can fill the hole in your soul but TRUE LOVE, then you will seek God with all your heart and He will reveal the TRUTH, that His love is everlasting and He does not change. People change and people let you down.  Only God is faithful, only is God worthy to be praised and loved with the love He will give to you first.  "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." Galatians 5:25-26 The Message

4 comments:

  1. "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

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  2. HYMN by Rhea Miller
    I'd rather have Jesus than siliver or gold,
    I'd rather be His than have riches untold,
    I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
    I'd rather be led by His nail-pireced hand.
    I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
    I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
    I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
    I'd rather be tru to His holy name.
    He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
    He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
    He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
    I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

    Than to be the King of a vast domain
    Or be held in sin's dread sway;
    I'd rather have Jesus than anything
    This world affords today.

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  3. GOD is always working "in me" and for me, all around me
    GOD pursues a continuing LOVE relationship with me that is real and personal
    GOD invites me to become involved with Him in His work
    GOD speaks by the Holy Spirit thru the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the body of Christ to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
    GOD's invitation to me to work with Him always leads me to a crisis of belief that REQUIRES faith and action.
    GOD initiates and I must make major adjustments in my life to join God in what He is already doing.
    GOD desires that I know Him personally, by experiencing His delight in my obedience as He accomplishes His purpose filled work through me.

    EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry & Richard Blackaby

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  4. “When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin! And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.” Matt 3:7-10 The Message

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