Saturday, October 17, 2015

Life-changing Faith ~ by Amy Vest



What would your life look like if you truly believed God?

Think about that for a moment.


What would your life look like if you not just said that you believed God, but truly believed in the depths of your heart that He is all that He says He is, that His Word is Truth, and that He will fulfill all of His promises - and then acted on the realityHow different would your life look?

Right now I am sitting in my computer chair as I type.  While I can say that I believe that my chair will hold me up, I only prove my faith in it when I sit in it.  It is the same way with faith in God - we prove our faith when we step out and live in the reality of what we say we believe.

Faith takes God at His Word about Who He is and what He has promised.

Faith says - "God, I believe:
You are Who You say You are.
Your Word is Truth.
You will do what You say You will do."


If we really lived believing this, wouldn't it change our lives - and the world around us?

Faith begins at salvation where we embrace faith in Jesus, His death on the cross for our sins, resurrection, and redemption of our souls - relying on Him alone to save us, to cleanse our sin, fill us with His life, and make us His own.  "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."  Ephesians 2:8-9


Then we live from that faith in daily life by relying on Jesus, His Word, His life in us, and grace to live life called to in Him until we see Him face to face. 
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  (Hebrews 11:1)

This journey of faith in Jesus is a beautiful thing.
The key in our faith is the object of our faith - Jesus.  You are only as secure as the one you put your faith in.  When your faith is in Jesus, you are as unshakeable as He is.  "And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God."' (Mark 11:22)

Stop and ask yourself, "Who - or what - is my faith in?"

God alone will never fail us.  Faith in God is a rock solid security to our soul.  All that He is - and all that He has promised - is a reality for you lean on in faith.


Faith in God overcomes feelings, circumstances, lies of the enemy, or doubts of others.
  Faith does not say, "Look at my impossible circumstances." Faith declares to your circumstances, "Look at Who my God is!"

"My God is the One Who created the universe, is in control of all things, has all power, is forever faithful, knows what is best, redeems souls, loves me perfectly, will never leave or forsake me..."


This week I was reading a verse that stirs me in the core of my being, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)  What is the answer? NO!  Nothing is too hard for You, Lord!  "For nothing will be impossible with God.”  (Luke 1:37)

Friend, this is the kind of faith we are called to live in every moment of our day!

Faith leads us to action.
  It moves us from saying "I believe ________." to acting on that belief.  Faith says, "I believe Your promise to be all that I need, so I will not covet other things." and "I believe that Your Word is Truth, so I will not turn other places for my answers."

We have been called by God to living, active faith. 
True faith in God inspires gutsy prayer, insane action, and deep joy.

This is the faith that inspired the  people we read about in the Hebrews 11 "Hall of Faith".  I strongly encourage you to go read it.  In this chapter is a beautiful reality that floods me with hope.  All of the people in this "Hall of Faith" were humans just like you and me - the thing that set them apart and enabled them to live the lives they did was a deep faith in God and His Word.  They were weak, imperfect people just like us who relied upon God and His Word instead of themselves, culture, possessions, or circumstances.  It is just as possible for you and me to live these lives of faith - because the God Who their faith was in is just as real today!

Every time I step out in faith - in small and enormous things - God proves Himself completely faithful.  He and His Word can be trusted, friend.  Even today I am leaning in faith on Jesus for some pretty big things - and am finding such peace in His faithfulness.  The more we have faith in God, the more we experience His faithfulness. " ...for we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)

God is waiting to meet you and work in and through your life in a way that only is possible through living a life of true faith in Him.

God:
Gives us faith
Tests our faith to prove it is real
Deepens our faith through life's joys and trials
Is honored by our faith
Uses our faith to point others to Him


Faith comes from God and points to God.

We will never believe perfectly this side of Heaven, but the greater our faith, the more we will experience God's presence, power, and provision in our lives.  Let's pray like those in Scripture did, '“Increase our faith!”'  (Luke 17:5)  '“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)  These are prayers the Lord delights to answer.

This life on earth is our only time we need faith.
  When we see Jesus face to face, we will no longer need faith - our faith will become sight and I know we

will wonder why we ever doubted Him.

I want to believe my God.  I want to live in faith in all that He is and has said.  I want that faith to propel me to do things that are only possible when He is Who He says He is and does what He promises.  I want to live a life of audacious faith that declares my God is all that He promises He is!  Don't you?
 
Here is a very practical part of this:


Will you rely fully on God and what He says today?
When you live by faith in Jesus and His Word - both believing and acting upon that belief - you find a solid rock beneath your feet that will transform your heart and life, lead you to radical living for His glory, and keep you through all of eternity.
 
Jesus has called us to lives of faith in Him that declare He is all that He says He is.


Let's ask Jesus for deeper faith today, place our faith in Him, and step out to live lives that believe His every Word!


"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."
  (Hebrews 12:1-2
)

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Christ Alone ~ Video Message with Amy Vest


Christ Alone ~ Commencement Address (2007 edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Join us for this powerful message that Amy Vest gave as part of a high school commencement ceremony as we discover the incredible joy found in living a life focused on, in, and to Christ alone!

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." 
~ Romans 11:36

(A little side note - during this address, the students were having trouble hearing the speakers because of the sound system, so their facial responses may sometimes reflect this reality.)

Friday, October 9, 2015

Fullness of Joy - The Presence of Jesus ~ by Amy Vest

The presence of Jesus.

There is nothing like it in all the world
.

"In your presence is fullness of joy."
Psalm 16:11

The presence - the nearness - of the One Who is our Savior, our Friend, our everything.

When you know Jesus is with you, you know that you have all that you need. 
For those who belong to Him, He has promised to be with you - forever.

"I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20) - and then to usher is into His presence in Heaven forever!

This, my friend, is the only way we find true, lasting, and full joy - in the presence of the One we were created to know and Who "satisfies the longing soul" (Psalm 107:9) - Jesus.


Jesus is with you right now.


Stop and let that sink in.

Jesus is right there with you.  Wherever you are. 
I know some of you are probably reading this in a hospital room, at home, on the road, or in different countries.  Some of you are happy, some of you are tired, some of you are crying. 

Jesus is there. 

Stop and ask:

How does the reality that Jesus with with me change my life?
The reality that Jesus is right here with you will change everything, if you embrace it.

All that He Is, is right here.  This inspires awe, worship, security, fulfillment, and obedience.


 I love to whisper "You are here." in the midst of my days.
Some moments it is soaking in His presence under a starry sky or in my time of devotions, other times it is treasuring His nearness in times of deep pain or while babysitting a household of lively kiddos, and much of the time, it is embracing the everyday moments with the One Who is my life.

Life is beautiful when it is lived in the presence of the Beautiful One.  Painless?  No.  But, deeply beautiful, because the reality of Jesus colors everything I encounter.

The One Who Is:
The Bread of Life - meets me in my soul's hunger
The King of Heaven - is in control
The All-Sufficient Savior - is all I need
The Shepherd - is there to guide and nurture me
... and everything else He tells us He is in His Word - is with you. 

Jesus wants you to share life with Him.

Friend, you have the opportunity to live every moment with Jesus.

To walk with Jesus every moment.
To turn your thoughts into a conversation with Jesus.
To soak of the reality that He is in you and with you.
To allow His presence to impact all you do and touch others that are desperate for Him.


Feel it?

I want to make a little note for those of you who are more "feelers" like me.  The presence of Jesus is 
a reality whether you can feel and sense it or not.  There are times when His presence feels so near and other times when we cannot feel it and must stand on the truth of His Word where He promises, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)  His presence is always just as real and unchanging, regardless of our feelings, ideas, or the circumstances of the world.

Miss it?
While His presence is just as real and unchanging, we can become distracted with less important things coming first in our hearts or minds, or believing those things will give the joy only His presence can give - or even seeking to hide from His presence (we can't - Psalm 139) because of the guilt of sin in our lives.  Listen to this beautiful truth, "
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God..." (1 Peter 3:18)  Jesus died for our sins to take the punishment we deserve, make us right with God, and restore the relationship with Him that was broken by sin.  Our response must be to turn from our sin to follow Jesus, receive His forgiveness, and live in the joy of His presence!

Welcome it!
I love praying, "Jesus, thank You that You are here.  We welcome Your presence, Lord.  Please have Your way."  Think of how you welcome your best friend to your house. Is it with passive agreement? No. It is with shouts of joy, open arms, and a heart of love, right? Oh, friends! Welcome the presence of Jesus - with arms and heart wide open as far as possible to the One Who is your life.  When Jesus comes, there is always joy - fullness of joy!

Friend, Jesus is right there with you now.  He is present.  He is real.  He is ready to meet you.

Welcome Him with an open heart, soak in His presence, and share your life with Him each moment.


He invites us to a life lived in His presence - when we respond, we find joy, because we receive Jesus.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

A Life of Worship ~ by Amy Vest



You are a worshipper.  Did you know that?  We are all worshippers. 

We are worshipping beings.  We were created by God to worship God.  We have this worshipping vacuum in our hearts and are always worshipping something.

So, what really is worship?  Worship is declaring the worth of someone or something.  It is essentially "worth-ship".

Let's ask:
"Who - or what - is my life declaring the worth of?"


Worship is first - and always - a heart state.  Then what we do flows out from that - to live a life of worship.

A friend recently said something that the Lord keeps using to encourage me, "He wants my heart, so that all that flows out is worship to Him."  Amen.  That is exactly what I want in my life, don't you?

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." 

Worship in the heart flows out in a life of worship.

Living a life in God's presence of lifting Him high in your heart, acknowledging and adoring Him for Who He is, and then living your life in a spirit of response to this.

Romans 12:1, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

We are called to worship Jesus not only with our hearts, or our lips, but with our very lives.


Worship begins with our hearts, flows into our lives, and propels our actions.

Worship is a way that glorifies Jesus by showing that He is valuable above all else.

I just love Psalm 27:4, "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." 

When you are beholding Who He is, worship comes naturally and flows out in how you live your life.

The Lord has used, and continually uses, worship of Him to change my life.

Worship makes me fall more in love with Jesus as I dwell on Who the One is Who is my God, Savior, Lord, dearest Friend, Love of my life, and greatest Treasure.  This echoes in my life.

As I gaze upon Who my God is, worship Him for it - it changes the atmosphere of my heart and then how I live in the reality of Who He is.

How do we actually worship?  Here are a few thoughts:
~ Behold God for Who He Is in His Word - This is where we know Who our God truly is and can worship Him for Who He is.  As you see Him, you know and love Him.
~ Lift Him up and declare His worth in your heart - This is where true worship begins and continues. 
~ Allow that worship to spill out in every area of your life - your thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions.

Some practical ways to live worship out:
~ Read through His Word, stopping to worship Him when you see an attribute of Who He Is.  For example, I read a verse that says, "The Lord is faithful..." (2 Thess. 3:3) and I lift my heart in worship and say, "Oh Lord, You are faithful! I worship You for Your faithfulness. Thank You that You are forever faithful to me."
~ Prayer - Taking what you know of God and offering it to Him in prayerful worship. I love worshipping Him both in my devotional time and also through the day and praying, "Lord, You are holy, perfect, pure..." and whatever I know of Who He is.  I love writing out Who He is from His Word in a journal - and this can be a powerful tool to look at and use for worship.
~ Sometimes it is simply seeing a glimpse of Him as I walk through my day, raising my heart in adoration, and saying, "Jesus, You are amazing!"
~ Singing, or turning on worship music that lifts Jesus high (often singing along!) and allowing it to usher my heart into worship.  This is so powerful as I go through the day in helping to keep my mind, heart, and eyes fixed on Who Jesus is and in a state of worship.  This can be any time from in my personal devotional time with the Lord, to cooking (yes, you may catch me paused in front of the kitchen sink with my heart and hands raised in worship), to driving in the car - and everything in between.
~ Talking about His goodness, worshipping Him in prayer, and singing with others who love Him raises my heart to worship Him.
~ and more!

Worship is not just a single activity, worship is a lifestyle.

I want to live a life that oozes worship of Jesus.
I want every pore of my being to declare that Jesus is worthy of all praise.
I want to inhale Jesus and exhale worship.


In my happiest moments, worship lifts my heart to Him; in the mundane tasks, it keeps my eyes on the supernatural; and in my deepest trials, it transforms my perspective and brings peace in light of all He is.

In every situation, worship says, "You are God.  You are good.  You are wise.  All is for Your glory."  It lifts my eyes from my circumstances to Who He is changes my perspective and transforms the atmosphere of my heart.   I see all that He is, my heart is lifted above my situation to Jesus, and there is deep joy, peace, and security no matter the circumstance.

"Lord, Yes, this may be my circumstance _____________, but THIS IS WHO YOU ARE ____________.  You are infinitely greater, wiser, and stronger.  I fix my eyes on You, lift You high for Who You are, and ask for Your grace to live in reality of this in a way that declares Your worth with every breath I take."


Jesus is matchless.  He alone is worthy of our worship.

Let's be worshippers of Jesus, friend.


This is what we were created for.

With every breath we breathe, let's set our eyes on Jesus, lift Him high in our hearts, and live lives of worship of the One Whose worth cannot be measured - until we step into eternity to worship Jesus forever!

Now, and for eternity, may our hearts and lives declare ~
"Jesus, You are worthy of all praise.  We worship You."

~~~~

What is one quality of Who God is that you are worshipping Him for today?  Please tell us in the comment section below!


Saturday, September 19, 2015

~ Summer Devotions Pursuit Testimonies ~

Dear Friends,

We are rejoicing and thanking the Lord for the beautiful work that He did in your hearts as you spent time with Him this summer!!!  It filled our hearts with praise to the Lord to read your testimonies and hear glimpses of what He has done!  HE is amazing!

We wanted to share some of your testimonies and encourage you as you seek the Lord!  He truly is worth seeking with all that we are!  We pray that, like many of you said, seeking the Lord and deepening your relationship with Him would be something that is a life habit for you beyond the Summer Devotions Pursuit!

May the Lord bless you as you continue to seek Him!  He alone satisfies!

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." ~ Psalm 107:9

With love,
Amy and your friends at LTLM

P.S.  For those of you who mailed in your charts, you can watch for your rewards in the mail in the coming 2-3 weeks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Summer Devotions Pursuit Testimonies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Loving the Lord Ministries,

Thank you so much for doing the Summer Pursuit... I have had the best summer getting to know God better!  I can’t wait for next summer to do it again! ~ Madisen, MN

~~~

In this program this summer, I felt like I got to know God better.  I got to get to know God better because I had motivation to keep on doing it and to not miss a day... ~ Sophia, MN

~~~

I really enjoyed the Summer Pursuit!  Thank you for putting it together, Miss Vest!  At first it was challenging to wake up and do my Bible time.  But after a while it got easier and more enjoyable! ...I hope to keep my Bible time up during the school year.  This devotional Pursuit has been challenging but it has really blessed me! ~ Gabriella, MN

~~~
Dear Loving the Lord Ministries,

Thank you for giving girls this summer pursuit challenge, to read their Bibles and pray.  This summer the Lord showed me areas in my life I need to work on.  The Lord saved me 2 years ago, but I had not really let Him control everything in my life.  So during this summer, He told me I needed to give Him everything and now I feel a complete peace, knowing God is in charge of my life.  Praise be to Him! ~ Lily, MN
~~~ 

Dear Staff at Loving the Lord Ministries,

Thank you so much for putting together the Summer Pursuit project... The Lord has really blessed me this summer as I have memorized and read His word.  I also appreciate the “accountability phone calls”, and the encouragement to share prayer requests with her as a sister in Christ.  May the Lord bless all your efforts to encourage others in spending personal devotion time with Him!  I hope to participate in the Summer Pursuit again next year. ~ Ania, MO

~~~
 

Thank you for doing this Summer Pursuit!  This is my 4th year doing it, and every year I’ve enjoyed it! ...It is really good to spend time in the word daily.  Anyways, I hope you continue doing this, it is truly an amazing inspiration!  Thank you!  “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 ~ Rebecca, Alberta CANADA 

~~~ 

One of my biggest challenges in the Summer Pursuit was memorizing Scripture.  It really helped me to have to memorize at least one verse a week.  It seems that if I don’t get myself into the habit of memorizing or don’t have some sort of memorizing goal for myself, then it somehow just gets squeezed out of my day!  Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is so important!  It was really hard for me to remember to time myself, but it was really interesting to look back and see how much time I was able to spend in God’s Word over the summer!  Thank you for challenging me to this! ~ Sarah, WI

~~~
 

Earlier this year when summer had just begun, my mom told me about a summer devotional chart I could do.  I decided to join, knowing it would help me do my daily devotions instead of falling into lazy summer procrastination.  I went off to several summer camps to volunteer, and I found the devotional chart very helpful in reminding me not to neglect God but have Him in first place in my life.  This summer especially, I found myself being tempted to “do my devotions later”, but I have been trying my hardest to reconnect with God and work on my side of the relationship, and He has proved ever faithful, as always.  I have learned to be sensitive to God and always listening to His voice, ready to go out and spread the Good News to whoever needs it.  Thanks for the help, Loving the Lord Ministries. ~
Caroline, British Columbia CANADA
 

~~~ 

Summer Pursuit has helped me with my walk with God.  I feel closer to Him and my love for Him has been greatly changed... I feel that I pray more and I just want to serve Him more.  Jesus has humbled me and has made me realize how much I need Him.  I’m learning to be more like Him every day and I strive to live out the verse, “To live is Christ.”  I’m learning to give my all to Christ.  I feel so much more joyful and I feel the love of God through me.  Jesus is my Rock and my Salvation.  God is so good and I shall treasure this summer spent with my Lord. ~ Rebekah, NE 

~~~ 

Thank you so much for organizing this challenge, my daughter and I both participated.  I’m glad to see her be so devoted to Bible reading and memorization.  It stretched me as well, and I spent more consistent time in the Word than I would have without the Summer Pursuit. ~ Mrs. Sarah, MN 

~~~ 

Dear Loving the Lord Ministries,

Thank you for putting this program together.  It has helped me draw closer to God.  I plan to continue to read my Bible every day.  I have been trying to read through the whole Bible.  I have just finished Ezekiel.  Thank you again. ~ Maria, MN 

~~~ 

This summer, God used the Summer Pursuit Chart to encourage me to spend more time in His Word.  Also, the verse-a-week requirement helped me to resume memorizing Philippians.  Towards the end of summer, God has been working in my heart to remind me that as a Christian, I should follow Christ in having a positive attitude inside of me.  Not only helping others, but being glad to help.  Through  multiple passages, God has shown me answers and given me comfort in many topics.  God has blessed me in numerous ways this summer!  I am very thankful. ~ Emily, MN 

~~~ 

Through the memorizing, reading, and spending time to talk to God, it has become easier and easier every day to find time for my devotions... The Summer Pursuit has really helped me to do my devotions every day and I am eager to continue through the year. ~ Abigail, MN

~~~


To GOD be the glory!  Blessings as you continue to seek Him!

Friday, September 18, 2015

The Power and Potential of Your Youth ~ Audio Message


The Power and Potential of Your Youth (2005 Edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Join us for this inspiring message ~ The Power and Potential of Your Youth for God ~ as Amy Vest shares the incredible power and potential that your youth holds for knowing Jesus, growing in Him, and sharing Him with others!

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." ~ 1 Timothy 4:12

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Jesus - No One Compares ~ by Amy Vest


Jesus.  The most precious Name in the world.  The One to Whom no one compares.  The only source of all we need.  Jesus.

Oh, friend!  He has been showing His goodness, grace, holiness, nearness, and reality so much lately.  My heart has been falling more deeply in love with the One I need so desperately.

He is matchless.

I could talk about Him for hours, but there are 4 precious realities that I want to share about Him that have been bringing so much joy to my heart.

Jesus:

1. Is real -
He is so real.   He wants to be real to you.  The things He says in His Word about Who He is are not just words on a page, they are reality.  He wants to make Himself so real to you and is working in your life for this purpose.  We can watch each day for Him to reveal to us the reality of Who He is as we walk with Him through the day.  This is a prayer He delights to answer. 

How is He real to you?

2. Only satisfies -
Jesus alone is the satisfaction of the vacuum in our heart.  He will not allow you to be satisfied in anything else.  He is always wooing you to Himself.  He alone can satisfy the longing He created.  We can respond through running to Him for our joy - through prayer, time in His Word, walking with Him each moment, and making Him the object of our love and pursuit.  As we do, we always find the reality of this verse, "He satisfies the longing soul..." Psalm 107:9

Where are you looking for satisfaction?

3. Wants your heart -
Oh, how He wants your heart!  He made you for Him and He will never stop pursuing your heart.  This is such faithful love.  He wants your heart more than your words or your hands.  “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."' Matthew 15:8 "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6  He will not let you settle for outward actions - He wants your heart.  And you can be so glad - when He has your heart, you are satisfied and He is glorified.  When your heart is His, all that flows out is worship.

Is your heart with Him?

4. Calls you to an endless journey and romance with Him -
He invites you to enjoy and embrace this personal relationship of love with Him that touches every area of your life. Every day of this life until we step into eternity is an opportunity to walk moment by moment with Him - learning His heart, understanding His Word, being knit more closely to Him.  All you face serves to make Him more precious - the trials, victories, and everything in between.  Life is so full of purpose, anticipation, and joy as you open your eyes each morning to a new day of walking with and knowing Jesus more!

Will you walk with Him today?


These are precious realities that have been filling me with so much joy.  I pray they will do the same for you.

Friend, as you receive His grace to embrace Jesus as your reality, satisfaction, heart's treasure, and purpose in living, your heart will love Him more and we can declare together:

"There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you..." 1 Chronicles 17:20

Jesus.  No one compares.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Amazing Love ~ by Amy Vest



I sat in church as communion was passed, holding my cracker, and pondering with awe what Jesus did on the Cross.

The words from the song echoed in my heart, "Amazing Love!  How can it be, that You my God would die for me?"

"Jesus, You died so I could be in a relationship with You."
 
I prayed to Him. My eyes filled with tears of grateful wonder.

"I love You, Jesus."


The pianist was playing a song that my heart responded in prayer with, "Lover of my soul, I want to live for You."
My heart knew that He was calling me to go live in the reality of His work on the Cross and deep love, and to live from that love.

The love of Jesus in the Cross changes everything.

The Cross is the turning point in history, your eternal destiny, and our moment by moment life.

If you have trusted in Jesus and His work on the Cross for you:
The blood of Jesus has washed away your sin.
The Father's wrath over sin has been completely satisfied by the death of Jesus on your behalf.
You have been brought to God as His beloved child in Jesus.
For now and eternity you can worship Him and live in fellowship with Him.
He will continue to pour out His love and grace to live for Him, walk with you, and will draw you near every day until you step into eternity with Him.


What amazing love!

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13)
"...Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him."
  (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)
"We love because he first loved us." 
(1 John 4:19)
"Let all that you do be done in love."  (1 Corinthians 16:4)

Soak in His amazing love in the Cross today, friend - for the first time, or afresh.

Let this love inspire the deepest love for Jesus in response, and compel you to go and live for Him from all that He is for you in this amazing love!

How could such a love as this have anything less than all that we are?

"Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!"

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."  (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Friday, September 4, 2015