The Freedom of Neediness of Jesus ~ by Amy Vest

I have some very good news for you - You are needy.  "Is that good news?", you might ask.  Yes, very good news.

You see, you and I were created by God as needy human beings.  Every single one of us.

We live in a culture that tells us we should not be needy, or we should pretend we have no needs.

We have a God that tells us we were created as needy humans, dependent on an all-sufficient Savior.  We were created for a relationship with Him that glorifies Him and satisfies us.

This beautiful need is meant to drive us to Jesus.  That is what makes it good news.

Our need + Jesus' sufficiency = all we could ever need.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19)

Oh friend!  I have found such freedom and joy in realizing and embracing my neediness and Jesus' sufficiency.  {Deep breath}  I don't need to try to be something I can never be, or do something I can never do on my own strength.  No.  I can turn to Jesus in my need and find all I need - and all I could ever want!

I love praying, "Jesus, I need You!  I am so needy and You are so sufficient." and experiencing His sufficiency - His fullness to meet my every need - wash over me every time.  This only deepens my love and trust as I taste His goodness.  This is how we were created to live!

First, we must see that we are needy, before we can receive the solution to our need.

Pretending we have no need is both prideful and a lie - and it will get us nowhere.  Acknowledging our need and embracing Jesus sufficiency floods us with joy - and through His life in us, the Spirit moves and bears fruit in and through our lives.

What are some of our needs?

We need:
- saving from our sins
- grace
- forgiveness
- love
- guidance
- breath
- hope
- help
- satisfaction
...and so much more!

In our neediness we can look to Jesus, or we can look other places.  Where we look determines what we will receive.  Jesus fulfills us, anything else will leave us needy and empty.  Jesus created the need and He alone can fill it.

Jesus is the answer - and is the source of the answer - to our every need.

You see, seeing your need of Jesus is a beautiful thing.  The beautiful thing is, the more we see our need, the more we can turn to Jesus and can welcome His sufficiency in our lives.

Every need that drives you to Jesus is your friend.

First we see our neediness of Jesus at salvation, aware of our desperate neediness of and seeking for His forgiveness and redeeming life.  (See more on this HERE.)  Salvation begins a moment by moment relationship of dependence upon Jesus every day of our lives as He draws us closer, makes us more like Jesus, and enables us to live for Him by His life within us. 

I love how the Lord has given us the earthly evidence of our neediness of Him in our need to eat, drink, rest, etc. every day.  We need Him to provide these things for us - and these things are a picture of our deeper needs of our soul.  Our souls are hungry, thirsty, etc. and Jesus alone can fill these needs. 

This morning I was reading in John where Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (Matthew 6:35) and marveling once again that we can keep coming to Him over and over and He always has full supply - and there is always more of Him to know and be satisfied by.

Let our hearts prayer be, "Jesus, I cannot breathe, or obey You, or make any eternal difference without You.  I need You.  Jesus, You are, and I ask You to be to me the:
 breath in my lungs
salvation to my soul
love in my heart
truth to my mind
guide to my path
...and so much more!"

And when we call, He delights to come, live His life in and through us, and meet these needs.

When we depend on Jesus, His life, power, and Spirit, there is no end to what He can do! 

We as Christians were meant to live lives that are not explainable in human terms - only in terms of Jesus.  The only way this will happen is when we live lives dependant on Jesus.

How can we do this?  I am so glad you asked.

Here are a few ways to start:

~ Prayer - When we pray, we acknowledge that God is the One we need and rely upon.  Living in a spirit of prayer each moment is such a sweet evidence of dependence.  "Jesus, I need You, depend on You, look to You for all I need."  "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God... Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)  And we are always in need, so we can always draw near!
~ The Bible - Going to God's Word proves we know we don't have answers and we know He does.  Turn to His Word for your answers.  Ask His Holy Spirit to open your eyes to His Truth.
~ Relying on His Spirit and life within us vs. depending on our own strength or instinct.  We can easily tend to try to do things on our own or depend on what we think is best.  When we are looking to and listening for Him, He can guide us in line with His Word.
~ Starting your day - I love talking to Jesus as I wake up and praying something like, "Good morning Jesus, I love You, You are all I need, I want You, Lord.  I surrender myself to You afresh.  Please give me more of You and live Your life in and through me today."

The Christian life is meant to be daily moment by moment dependence on Jesus.  As we live this way, we taste His sufficiency that both satisfies us and spills out in fruit in and through our lives.

This is the life you are created to live.

Embrace your neediness and let it drive you to embrace Jesus, friend.

In the sufficiency of Jesus you will find all that you need.

Today is the last day of the Summer Devotions Pursuit!

Today is the last day of the Summer Devotions Pursuit 2015!

We are so thrilled with how so many of you spent this summer seeking Jesus!  We know Jesus has done beautiful things as He met with you this summer.  He is amazing and truly the answer to the deepest longings of our hearts!  Time with Him is truly life changing - because HE is the One who transforms our lives!

We pray that taking part in this Summer Pursuit would only be the start of a lifetime of daily meeting with Jesus.

How we praise Jesus to hear things from you like this note we got at the beginning of this year's Summer Pursuit:

"My sister completed this program last year with a friend.  She loved it and has continued to keep the pattern she set all year long.  I hope to start the same habit."

We need Jesus every moment of every day, friends. {Blog post on this coming soon!}

The more we seek Him, the more we know Him.  The more we know Him, the more we love Him.  The more we love Him, the more we desire to seek Him more!

He has so much more for you to know of Him in the days to come - Keep seeking Jesus!
The Lord's blessings on you as you end the Summer Pursuit and launch into a lifetime of seeking Jesus!

"Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” ~ Hosea 3:5


~~~

For those of you who have completed the Summer Pursuit 2015, be sure to mail in your charts to us so they arrive by September 8th and we will mail you your reward package!

The Call of Discipleship ~ Audio Message

The Call of Discipleship (2004 edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

The Lord has given us a powerful call to know Him and then make Him known.

As He lives in us and His life pours through us to others, He can bring transformation in the lives of others that impacts eternal souls. 

Join us for this encouraging message on Jesus' call to discipleship for every Christian!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."  Matthew 28:19

The Power of Fellowship and Accountability ~ by Amy Vest

Fellowship and accountability are powerful - immeasurably powerful.

I have said over and over that Jesus is all you need. And I will confirm that and say it again - Jesus is all you need.

In His perfect design He gave us people and human relationships. Why?

God gives us people to encourage one another in following him.

Recently I memorized these verses:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."  ~ Ecclesiastes  4:9-12

The Lord could have created us and put us each on our own personal islands. But He designed us for community - to impact and be impacted by one another towards Him and living for Him.

Proverbs 27:17 clearly tells us, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

There is such incredible power in having others to point us to Jesus, fan the flame of love for Him in our lives, and challenge us to go deeper in our relationship with Him.

When I was in my teens, the Lord provided a precious friendship that grew through accountability and fellowship. My friend and I would call one another every 2 weeks to keep one another accountable, share what the Lord was doing in our lives, and find out how we could pray for each other. This friendship has been a mighty tool in the Lord's hand to bring me closer to Him. Just recently we talked again - though now many miles separate us - the fellowship and accountability is priceless.

Many of you have experienced the power of this when you have chosen an accountability partner for the Summer Devotions Pursuit, or a similar friendship.

I love the passage in Scripture that talks of how Jonathan and David's friendship and how they, "...strengthened his hand in God." ~ 1 Samuel 23:16

That is what we are called to in human friendship.

The Lord works so mightily through fellowship and accountability: 

~ Fellowship - a bond, encouragement, and grace in Jesus that comes from sharing the same Savior, love, and goal in life.

~ Accountability - helping, cheering, and challenging one another towards greater depth with Jesus.

I am so grateful for the precious friends that the Lord has used, and uses, to point me to Him in these ways. The impact on my walk with Jesus and life are immeasurable.

These kind of friendships He gives us are priceless companions sharing the path on this journey with Jesus and teammates cheering us on in Him until we cross the finish line of this life.

We are humans who need help, encouragement, accountability, and correction. The Lord often chooses to work through people to provide this grace.

Listen carefully to what this verse is telling us:

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." ~ Hebrews 3:13

I want this to be clear - the enemy of your soul loves for you to be isolated and alone. In this place, he will try to deceive you, discourage you, and distract you. When we are in godly community and relationships, the Lord can use them to speak Truth to one another and help expose lies we are believing and to identify and rejoice in God's work in our lives.

Fellowship and accountability are gifts God has given for our good and His glory - to point us to Him!

Let's embrace them for His glory in our lives.

Here are some action steps you can take today:

~ Ask the Lord to provide a godly friendship/godly friendships

~ Pursue one godly friend/godly friends

~ Establish a pattern for encouragement and accountability - This could be a phone call once every 2 weeks, a coffee date, praying for one another, quoting your Bible memory verses to one another, etc.

~ For more encouragement and practical application, you can watch the video session on "The Heart of Friendship"!

May the Lord work in a mighty way through your friendship and accountability to draw you closer to Him - your God, dearest Friend, and Life!

The Impact of One Life Lived for God ~ Session 5 ~ Changing Your World for Christ Conference Video

The Impact of One Life Lived for God ~ Changing Your World for Christ ~ Session 5 (2007 Edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Join us for the final session of the Changing Your World for Christ Conference ~ The Impact of One Life Lived for God! This session gives dynamic encouragement in realizing what the Lord can do through one life that is yielded to Him!

Companion handout available at www.lovingthelordministries.org!

You are Forever Loved ~ by Amy Vest

Friend ~ Do you know how much you are forever loved?

Listen to these precious verses:

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39

NOTHING can separate you from God's love in Jesus.  Nothing.

As His own, you are loved with the everlasting love of the One Who IS love - God.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."  ~ Jeremiah 31:3
"...God is love." ~ 1 John 4:8

God loves you infinitely more in a millisecond than any person could love you in a lifetime.

His love is the love you were created for, the only place you are truly satisfied, and the strength to love in return.  His is the love you seek, the love that fulfills the deepest longings of your heart, and the love that will never ever let you go.  His love is the love that redeems, transforms, sanctifies, and causes us to desire to live for Him with all that we are.  His is the love we need.

"Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." ~ Psalm 90:14

Today may you find deep rest, satisfaction, and joy as you live in the reality that you are loved more than you could dream by Him. 

Forever.

And may this result in a response of love to Jesus that spills out in every moment of your life.

"Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." ~ Psalm 63:3

~ Video Update ~

Hi Friends!

Just a little message to let you know that we have had some technical difficulties with the final video session of the Changing Your World for Christ Conference.

Until it is uploaded, we invite you to watch the first 4 sessions of the conference - as well as over 30 other videos on our video page!

We love you and are cheering for you as you walk with Jesus!
Amy and the LTLM Staff

The Sweetness of Selflessness ~ by Amy Vest

Selflessness.

What comes to mind when you hear this word?  Cringing and drudgery, or joy and freedom?

Let's take a look.

We are naturally selfish, focused on our self, and wanting what we want to satisfy ourselves.  Selflessness is not something that we come by automatically. 

Here is the amazing thing:

Selfishness is natural.
Selflessness is supernatural.

Selflessness is only possible because of Jesus.

While basically anyone can, should, and will be blessed when they choose to put others first in action - true selflessness is really a condition of our heart that flows out in how we live our lives.  This is transformation only Jesus can bring.

It is a change from a focus on self to focus on Jesus, Who fulfills you and enables you to focus on others.

This change begins at salvation when you turn from following self to follow Christ, and it continues for your whole life with Jesus on earth as He works in you.

Just this morning I was reading John 3 and read once again that beautiful verse, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

This is the beautiful thing - the "less" of self, means the "more" of Jesus in our lives! I want this, don't you?

The more we are emptied of ourselves, and the more we are filled with Jesus, the more we will taste the sweet freedom of selflessness.  It is a process - and it can be painful, because self does not like to decrease - but, the increase of Jesus FAR outweighs it.

I don't know about you, but when I am focused on myself, I am empty, unfulfilled, and miserable.  But, when I am allowing Jesus to empty me of self, fill me, and love others through me, there is so much joy!

This is a reality that has been transforming my world:

I can freely deny myself when I realize that Jesus is all I need.
 
Do you see how this works?  When I have everything in Jesus, I no longer need to look for fulfillment, acclaim, rights, etc. - I have all in Jesus and know He cares for me! 

Then I can follow His example.

He gave of Himself, so that I could have all in Him. I can now deny myself for Him and so that He can give Himself through me to others.

The Lord has recently been deepening this in my heart in the area of sensitive availability to my family.  I can be going about what I think is the Lord's role for me in a day - and then a need comes up for someone close to me.  I sense a gentle tug of the Holy Spirit in my heart to set the project aside and see how Jesus can use me to minister to that person - sometimes it is simply a hug, helping them with a project, or praying with them.  In that moment, I can listen to Jesus, deny myself, and reach out to that person - and if I do, there is so much joy, more of Jesus, and He works.  I want to live in this every day - and Jesus delights to grow us!

I love, love, love this passage about Jesus and our call because Him:

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." ~ Philippians 2:3-11

This is where true life is found - in denying ourselves and letting Jesus increase in us and through us to others!

What is an area you feel the Lord calling you to less of self and more of Him in today, friend?  I am asking myself the same question.  Let's let Him work and bring the sweetness of selflessness in us!

I do want to whisper a little clarification to those of you who may be like I was and think this may mean something it doesn't - it does not mean that you never get sleep, or have to say "yes" to every person's request - and definitely it does not mean that you give up what God has shown you is right!  We are humans with God-given limitations.  Selflessness is a heart condition and attitude of yielded focus on Jesus instead of self, and then on others, to pour out your life for Him however He leads!

Selflessness is saying "no" to self and "yes" to Jesus.  It is putting Jesus first and then allowing Him to turn our eyes to others.  It is a heart transformation by Jesus that radiates out in our lives in joy, freedom, and service.

When we are selfless, the world sees something different.

I want to live a life whose only explanation is Jesus. Selflessness is one of those things.

Knowing this is only possible with Jesus, let's run to Him, find all in Him, and allow Him to give to others through us.

In this we will taste more and more the sweetness of selflessness - more of Jesus in and through our lives!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  ~ John 3:16

Do You Know Jesus? ~ by Amy Vest

Do you ever wonder why you were created? God created you to have a personal relationship with Him, to glorify Him, and to live forever with Him in Heaven when you die. Apart from this relationship with God, you cannot find the joy, fulfillment, and peace that you were meant to have.

We all have a problem. There is darkness in our hearts. We have all sinned and disobeyed God. We have thought, said, and done wrong things. We have lied, cheated, been selfish, etc. God sees everything. Because God is holy and just, He cannot allow sin in His presence. Our sin separates us from God, and causes us to deserve His punishment, including being separated from Him eternally in Hell when we die. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Trying to do good things (“…and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” Is. 64:6), going to church, not sinning “really badly”, etc. will not save you, or earn you a place in Heaven. God is loving and merciful, but He is also holy and just. Even one little sin cannot be allowed before God. Otherwise, God would not be holy and just.

Because God is also loving and merciful, He made a way for us to be forgiven for our sins and be right with Him. God sent His son, Jesus Christ to earth. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross to take the punishment that we deserved for our sins, and rose again to live forever. In doing this, God made a way for us to be right with Him.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Receiving salvation from your sins through believing in and accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior will wash you from your sins, bring you into a right relationship with God, and make it possible for you to go to Heaven when you die. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It is a choice that you must personally make to receive as you would a gift. No one can make it for you. But, it is critical that you make it! (No one is promised tomorrow.)

Responding to God’s grace and believing in Christ is not something that takes place only in our mind – It is something that must take place in our heart and come out in our actions. Just like I can say that I believe that a chair will hold me up, I am not truly believing and placing my faith in the chair until I sit on it! It is the same way with believing in Jesus to save us. It is when we fully lean on Him to save us, that we truly are believing.

It is the most important decision that you will ever make, and it determines your standing with God and your eternal destiny in Heaven or Hell. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

If you choose to confess your sins to God, ask His forgiveness for them, turn from your sins, believe in Jesus to save you from your sins, and accept Him into your life as your Savior and Lord (which means the one who is in charge), you will be saved and become a child of God. John 1:12 says, “…As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Christ will come into your life, wash away your sins, and enable you to live for Him. Then when God looks at you, He no longer sees your sin, but Jesus. Because of this, you can be in a right relationship with God, live for His glory, and spend eternity in Heaven with Him when you die. This is the most important thing in life, is what you were created for, is where you will find true peace, and determines your eternal destiny.

To be right with God, it is essential to:

1. Admit your sin and your need for forgiveness.
2. Confess your sin to God, ask for His forgiveness, and turn from your sins to follow Him.
3. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and trust Him to save you.
4. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ and invite Him to come in and control your life as your Lord and Savior.

You can pray something like the following prayer:

“Dear Lord, I know that I have sinned and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and I trust You to save me. Please forgive me for my sins, come into my life as my Lord and Savior, and help me to live for You. I choose to turn from my sins, trust You as my Lord and Savior, surrender my life to You, and to follow You from now on. Thank you for dying in my place so that I can be right with You and spend eternity with You in Heaven when I die. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Romans 10:9-11 tells us,

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (ESV)

Once you have accepted salvation through Jesus Christ, your new life in Him has just begun! John 5:24 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

To grow in your relationship with the Lord you should:

1. Read the Bible, which is God’s word to you, each day (the book of John is a good place to start).
2. Spend time daily talking to God in prayer.
3. Worship the Lord, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where God’s Word is preached.
4. Live for Christ and tell others about Him.

The Lord will never leave you. He will make Himself more real to you as you seek Him and will satisfy the longings of your heart. The Lord will help you to live for Him! As His child, you have the joy of walking with Him in this life and the joy of knowing that you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

Witnessing and Gaining a Passion for Souls ~ Session 4 ~ Changing Your World for Christ Conference Video

Witnessing and Gaining a Passion for Souls ~ Changing Your World for Christ ~ Session 4 (2007 Edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Join us for Session 4 of the Changing Your World for Christ Conference ~ Witnessing and Gaining a Passion for Souls! This is a powerful and helpful session on sharing the Jesus we love with others!

Companion handout available at www.lovingthelordministries.org!

No better place to be...

"And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”'
~ Mark 1:17

Follow Me ~ by Amy Vest

"Follow Me."  These words from Jesus have been a theme for me over the past months.  I can say with great confidence that there is no other path worth walking.

Every step taken with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus leads us to more of Him and His matchless will for our lives.

In following Jesus, we find our life.

Listen to the words of Jesus,
"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"  Matthew 16:24-26

We answer the call to lose our life, find it in Jesus, and follow Him at salvation - and then follow Him as His own every moment of our life from that point on. 

It is the greatest journey.

When we follow other people, our hearts, etc. we are always going to be led astray.

This verse speaks the reality so richly: 
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

And Jesus says of Himself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:16)

When we are following Jesus, we are on the right way - for He IS the Way!

There is no one I would rather follow.

This has been a season of looking to Jesus for His will in a variety of areas in my life.  As I seek Him in surrender - praying, "Jesus, You and Your will are all I want!" - the answer keeps coming, "Follow Me."  I am seeing afresh the sweetness of step-by-step, moment-by-moment fellowship with, listening to, and following in obedience to Jesus.  It is priceless how in this, He reveals His will in His perfect timing, knowing just what I need when.  Best of all, in the process He is giving me what I need and want most - more of HIM!

I love how this brings such a deepening in our personal walk with Jesus, instead of getting focused on a plan of action.  It is about following Jesus and His Word, a relationship with Him, and living from that vs. following a plan.  Yes, He reveals a plan of action and calls us to act, but when we are following HIM, we see that the relationship is most important and that it is about JESUS, by His strength alone, and for His glory.

We are called to follow Him and He will lead, shape us, and give us grace for every step.  I love how when Jesus called the disciples, He said, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)  He didn't say, "Become fishers of men, and then follow Me."  He said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 

Over and over again we see that He wants our hearts more than our hands, and a relationship more than our plans.  When the heart and relationship is in place, the rest will flow and be beautiful because it is JESUS!  Otherwise, it is of little to no eternal value.  "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

This Sunday I slipped into a pew before service wanting some time with Jesus.  I opened my Bible to the text the sermon would be on and began to read.  In the Lord's sweet plan, the text included these words, "...he said to him, “Follow me." (Mark 2:14) 

As I sat in the pew with my Bible in my lap, a dear older man walked by and said with a twinkle in his eye, "It's a good Book, by the way."  I smiled back and said, "The BEST!"

Isn't this just so beautiful?

Jesus calls us to follow Him,
He tells us how in His Word - the Bible,
He applies His Word to our heart and life by His Spirit,
and He enables us to follow in obedience by His grace.

As we follow, we receive more of Jesus and are led into His will, resulting in our joy, His glory, and blessing to others.

This is the life we were created for and to which Jesus calls us!

My friend, the best place to be is with Jesus in the center of His will.  Don't settle for lesser paths that only lead to distraction, disappointment, and destruction.

We are called to follow Jesus with our whole lives. 

Stop and ask yourself these two questions:
1. Am I following Jesus as His own through salvation - Have I seen my sin and need for a Savior, trusted in Jesus and His death to save me from my sins, and given my life to Christ to follow Him? (read more on this HERE)

2.  What is one specific way (or ways) I know Jesus is calling me to follow Him today? 
Maybe it is:
- in obeying something in His Word
- in doing something you know He's called you to do
- in trusting Him to guide your future

As Jesus extends this call - "Follow Me." let our heart cry be:

"There is nothing I would rather do, no one I'd rather follow, and no place I would rather be!"

Will you answer Jesus call to follow Him?

Getting a Vision from the Lord for Your Life ~ Session 3 ~ Changing Your World for Christ Conference Video

Getting a Vision from the Lord for Your Life ~ Changing Your World for Christ ~ Session 3 (2007 Edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Join us for Session 3 of the Changing Your World for Christ Conference ~ Getting a Vision from the Lord for Your Life! This is an encouraging and insightful session on seeking the Lord for His beautiful purposes for your life!

Companion handout available at www.lovingthelordministries.org!