Iron Sharpens Iron...

"Iron sharpens iron, 

and one man sharpens another."

~Proverbs 27:17

Join us for Session 2 - "The Heart of Friendship" - of the Beautiful to God Online Conference!

Session 2 ~ "The Heart of Friendship" ~ Beautiful to God Conference from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Welcome to Session 2 of the Beautiful to God Conference - The Heart of Friendship!

Friendship is an amazing gift from God! God is a relational God and He created us in His Image for relationships.

God has a very special plan for friendship - for His glory, our joy, and the blessing of others. We must realize that our friendships are so critical - They can either aid you in knowing Jesus and living the vibrant life in Christ that you were created for, or they can destroy you. We must seek for Lord’s grace to embrace friendship for all that He intended.

We invite you to join us as we look at this important topic in this month's session!

Please visit our website lovingthelordministries.org for the companion handout for this session!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." ~ John 13:34

He First Loved Us...

"We love because he first   loved us." 

~1 John 4:19

Question of the Month ~ We want to hear from you!

We want to hear from you!

Here's the question for the month:

What is 1 thing that helps you grow in your relationship with Jesus?

    

                                                                     {Please comment below!}

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

~John 3:16 

There Is No Friend Like Jesus ~ Kayla's Testimony

 When I was 10 years old, I heard a speaker share the gospel. I was very convicted by what he said, so later that evening I went in tears to speak with someone who could explain the gospel to me because I did not think I was really saved. She explained salvation to me and I put my trust in Christ as my Savior and Lord. After that I had an intense desire to read and study God’s Word and get to know Jesus better. The more I studied, the more I realized how amazing Jesus is and that He is not just a God far away, but someone who can be a close friend, even a best friend. He has always been so faithful to show me His mercy and grace and love each day. Jesus has given me so much hope and joy that I never find with anyone else. I have so much peace when I walk closely with Jesus and even in the times when I have drifted away some, He has been faithful drawn my heart back to Him.

One example of a time I started to drift was last summer when I started to become really good friends with someone from my church. We spent a lot of time together and we would talk on the phone and text a lot too. It was a very godly friendship. We would often read our Bibles and pray when we would get together, and on the phone we would talk about church and tell each other what God had been doing in our lives. I was so happy that God had blessed me with such a godly friend.

 But over time I noticed something started to happen. I was spending less and less time reading my Bible and in prayer. I did not think about the Lord as much throughout my day and how I could honor Him. I was too preoccupied with this newfound friend who was taking a lot of my time and thought. So I started to drift away from my friendship with Jesus and He was given second place.

 As I realized this was happening, I also started to realize a lot of my joy was gone. I was not living in the peace that only God can give because problems started to surface as a result of this friendship. I went from being very happy to not very happy at all. I was had a lot of inner turmoil. It was at this time, that God removed this friend from my life. It was a little difficult at first, but I could see God’s grace through it in so many ways.

I now had so much more time to spend in my personal devotions. It was so wonderful to be able just to focus on Jesus and His Word. I could pray without any distractions. I was not looking forward to being with someone else more than I was with my Savior. I began to experience again the joy that only comes from being close to Jesus and having Him as my best friend.

It is good to have close friendships with other godly people, but when they replace Jesus as your very best and closest friend, they can become a distraction and God, in His love for us, may remove them from our lives or lead us to back away a little. Even though it can be hard sometimes, God always does what He knows is best for us and what He knows will give us the most joy. And He has shown me that nothing or no person can give you more joy than walking closely with Jesus and having Him as your closest friend.

Jesus Satisfies...

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."

~Psalm 107:9

A Journey of Love with Jesus ~ by Amy Vest

Jesus is calling you to Himself.

He is inviting you on a journey with Him.

You were created for a journey of love with Jesus.

This is a journey that is meant to deepen every year you walk with Him - amid all of the happy and hard times - bringing matchless joy to you, glory to Him, and overflowing in blessing to others.

You were meant for this journey with Jesus, friend.

Nothing compares.

Never forget that you were created for Jesus and will not be satisfied anywhere else.

He IS love and is calling you to a journey of love with Him.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)

Let's take a glimpse at 3 elements of this journey of love:

1. Know His love personally and love Him in return.  He pursues and we respond.
- Know for yourself His love in His Word, Salvation (more on this HERE), and His being present and at work in you every moment by His Spirit. (John 3:16)
- Love Him in return by putting Him first in heart, seeking Him, worshiping Him, and living for Him. (Mark 12:30)

2. Live in and from His love.
- Live in His love - soaking in it every day thorough His Word, prayer and fellowship with Him through the day, and remembering His love. (2 Thess. 3:5)
- Live from His love - letting the love that is forever and unchangeably yours in Him motivate and empower all you do vs. trying to live to earn His love that is already yours and cannot be earned. (2 Cor. 5:14)

3. Share His love.
As you receive His love and love Him in return, allow that love to spill out to others. "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Oh, friend! You have the joy of walking in this relationship of love with Jesus every moment of your life!

It is a relationship.
It is love.
It is a journey.
It is with JESUS! 

There is nothing sweeter in all the world.

And Jesus is calling us to this!

I want to live each moment with:
my hand in His hand and my heart in His heart,
basking in His love and presence,
soaking in His Word and listening to His voice,
loving Him with all that I am,
spilling out His love to others and calling them to know it for themselves...
Following wherever Love leads.

Do you?

There is no other journey worth taking - and on this journey He guides you to all else He has for you.

He is pursing you, revealing His love, guiding your steps, teaching you His Truth, giving grace to walk with Him. When you fall, He picks you up, when you disobey, He lovingly disciplines you and draws you close, when you are weak, He strengthens you...He will keep you.

Nothing can separate you from His love.

"...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)

As we embrace this, life - in all of its seasons - becomes an amazing journey of a deepening relationship of love with Jesus - the One who is Love.

He has so much in store for you, friend.

Jesus is calling you to this journey of love with Him - will you answer?

Love the Lord...

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength."

~Mark 12:30 

Join us for Session 1 - "Jesus is Your Best Friend" - of the Beautiful to God Online Conference!

Session 1 ~ "Jesus is Your Best Friend" ~ Beautiful to God Conference from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

Welcome to Session 1 of the Beautiful to God Conference - Jesus is Your Best Friend!

The reason you are on this earth is for a relationship with Jesus that satisfies you and glorifies Him! This relationship with Him is the most important thing in this life and in eternity. Jesus is so amazing and knowing Him will transform your life!

Join us for this powerful session as we look at the most important relationship in the world with Jesus - the One who alone can satisfy the longings of our soul. It is our prayer that you will encounter Jesus for yourself - in a deeper way, or for the very first time - and you will never be the same!

Please visit our website www.lovingthelordministries.org under the "Beautiful to God Online Conference" section for the handout for this session!

We would love to have you comment below and share something the Lord did in your heart as you watched this video!

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength." Mark 12:30

Launching the New Blog Plan Today!

Today marks the launch of the new blog plan for the coming months! 

We are so excited to seek our Jesus together and know that He has amazing things in store!

Each month of the plan will include:
~ A "Beautiful to God" Session Video
~ An encouraging article from Amy
~ A powerful testimony by a young woman
~ A question to apply this topic to your life and get your feedback on the online community

Know that we would love to have you interact as part of the community here on the blog - so feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.!

Jesus is amazing and nothing compares to life in Him!  Let's seek Him with all of our hearts together!

Invite your friends to join us!

The Beautiful to God Online Conference and new blog plan begin this coming Wednesday, February 1st! 

Are you ready?

We are so excited for all that the Lord has in store!

As we prepare to begin, we encourage you to invite your friends to join us for this life-changing adventure! 

You can share links to the blog (www.lovingthelord.org), website (www.lovingthelordministries.org), and Facebook event page with your friends by email, text, or social media!

Jesus is going to meet with us in the coming months and it would be beautiful to have as many young women as possible join us!

Seeking our amazing Jesus in Tennessee!

The Lord provided a sweet opportunity for Amy to speak to a group of amazing young women in Tennessee last week on "Loving Jesus as Your Best Friend".  It was a precious time and the Lord met with us as we looked at the reality that He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts!  

 

"He satisfies the longing soul..." Psalm 107:9

~ Beautiful to God Online Conference - Official Invitation! ~

Dear Friends,

We are so excited to invite you to join us for the online "Beautiful to God Conference" that is beginning February 1st!  We are so excited for this special way to seek Jesus and His Word with all of you across the world!

God designed you to live a life that is fulfilled in Him, radiates His beauty, and impacts the lives of everyone you touch for His glory.  It is our prayer that through this conference, you would be strengthened to embrace the life that God created you for, calls you to, and says in His Word is very precious.

The video above is the "Invitation and Introduction" to the “Beautiful to God” Online Conference ~ an invitation we are extending to everyone you want to invite to join us!  (Next month we will be releasing Session 1: "Jesus Is Your Best Friend"!)

The plan is to post a session video once a month, in line with the new blog schedule, which includes articles, testimonies, practical application questions, and more that correspond with the topic being covered that month.

Feel free to share this with your friends via email, Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, etc. We would LOVE to have as many as possible join us!  We encourage you to go through this as mom and daughter, or find at least one friend {even via phone or email} and discuss it together! You could even plan a gathering once a month to watch the video and discuss it as a group!

We are so looking forward to embracing Jesus and His plan in this together!  May the Lord bless you as you seek Him!

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”  ~ Proverbs 31:30

With love in Jesus,
Amy Vest for Loving the Lord Ministries, Inc.

Unfolding the Blog Plan for the Coming Days!

Hi Friends!

As we jump into this new year with Jesus, we are so excited to unfold the blog plan for the coming days!

The Lord has amazing things in store!

Each month of the plan will include:
~ A "Beautiful to God" Session Video*
~ An encouraging article from Amy
~ A powerful testimony by a young woman
~ A question to apply this topic to your life and get your feedback on the online community

*This blog plan includes attending the "Beautiful to God" online conference, which will be so fun to go through together!  {More details coming!}

This plan will be beginning February 1st.   We are so excited to continue to seek Jesus with you - and we encourage you to to invite your friends to join us!

Jesus is amazing.  His Word is True. The life He has called you to in Him is matchless.

We are so excited to seek Him together in the days to come!

Are you ready?

We love you and love seeking Jesus with you,

Amy Vest and your friends at LTLM

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”  Proverbs 31:30

Beautiful to God Class Update ~ Final Session

We had a sweet time at the final Beautiful to God Class session looking at the topic of "The Impact of a Life that is Beautiful to God"!

We are so excited for all that the Lord has in store as each class member walks with Jesus, bases her life on His Word, and lives a life devoted to Him, by His grace!

"...let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:3-4

Stepping into a New Year with Jesus ~ by Amy Vest

I love this reality:

When you step into a new year, you step into it with Jesus.

This reality changes everything.  Jesus changes everything.  Jesus is everything you need.

Listen to His sweet promises for those who are His:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)

"I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Matt. 28:20)

Jesus is with you, friend.

He goes with you, before you, and within you.

In Him you have an:
All sufficient Savior
Faithful Shepherd
Truest Friend
Unfaltering Guide
Ever present Help
Unfailing Love
Reigning King
and so much more!

He is: 
your only hope
all you need
with you
for you
working all things for your good
giving what you truly need
going to keep you to the end

He will be with you every step of the way.

The Jesus you have known in the past will be the same in this coming year - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb. 13:8) -  and each step offers the opportunity to discover so much more of Who He is!

What a beautiful reality!

Yes, you can step into this new year - and each new day of the rest of your life - with joy, because you step in with Jesus.

He Takes Away Our Sin...

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

~John 1:29~

Behold the Lamb ~ By Amy Vest

Do you know how some reality captures your heart?

This Christmas my heart has been treasuring the wonder that Jesus came so that we could know Him.

What an inexpressible gift.

We were lost in our sin, separated from God, and headed for eternity apart from Him.

The God of the universe sent His Son to this earth to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross so we could know Him - and our lives could overflow with satisfaction in Him and glory to Him.

Isn't this amazing beyond words?

A verse that has been on my mind this season is,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

This Lamb - Jesus - the perfect Son of God - coming to take away our sins.

This is what our Jesus came to do.

In trusting in and yielding to Him, our sins are washed away, we are given relationship with Him, and will live with Him forever.

From this point, we can go deeper to know Him as the One who "...satisfies the longing soul."  Psalm 107:9

This, my friend, is a reason to rejoice!

This is what we were created for.  This is our soul's deepest need.  This is where our hope lies.  This is where our joy is found.

Jesus.

This Christmas may your heart overflow with joy and worship as you behold the Lamb of God who came so that you could know Him - and find all that you ever need!

Looking to Jesus...

"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus..." 

                      Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus: The Focus of Your Life ~ By Amy Vest

Where is your focus?

Stop and think about that, friend.

Where is your mind riveted, heart set, and mind directed?

You see where our focus lies is very
important.

Focus = "a center of activity, attraction, or attention, a point of concentration, directed attention."

You were created to have Jesus as your focus.

When we lift the eyes of our heart to Jesus, our perspective changes - because Jesus changes everything.

Putting our focus on Jesus shows that we know that:
~ He is our only hope.
~ He alone can satisfy.
~ He is worthy of our trust and all that we are.

Listen to this amazing promise:

"Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed."  Psalm 34:5

Oh, friend, can you relate with me?

When I lift the eyes of my heart to Jesus - peace washes my soul, fulfillment floods my heart, and security fortifies my spirit.

This is the beautiful thing: 
When our eyes are on Jesus, the rest of our life is colored by the reality of all that He is.

As I walk through my day focused on Jesus and I face an overwhelming situation, I know that He is my help.  If I face weakness, He is my strength.  If I face pain, He is my comfort.  If I experience joy, He is my song.

I want to live a life that is riveted on Jesus, don't you?

I long for our life's cry to be "...our eyes are on You."  2 Chronicles 20:11


If you are like me, you can get distracted.  It is so easy to get our eyes on ourselves, circumstances, people, things... But these things are fleeting, empty, and can never deliver the satisfaction that only Jesus can bring.

I love how Jesus in His love will not allow our focus to drift for long.  He kindly brings reminders - whether in the form of joys or trials - that lift our eyes to Him.  As we regain our focus, His peace washes us once again.


We need to have our eyes fixed on Jesus in all of the seasons of life - because we need Him all of our life.


What are some ways we can fix our eyes on Jesus?
~ Choosing in our heart to direct our mind to Him.
~ Praying and asking for His help.
~ Being in the Word.
~ Memorizing and meditating on Scripture.
~ Worship.
~ Journaling about His faithfulness.
~ Gathering with friends who love Him.
~ Having reminders of His love.
~ and so many more!

The beauty of having our focus on Jesus has been powerfully real for me the past couple of weeks in different areas.  When my focus has been on other things, I found lack of peace.  But, when my eyes have been on Jesus, and considering those things with Him and in light of Him, there is inexpressible peace.

Jesus invites, calls, and equips us to live with Him as our focus, friend.

As He is our focus, our hope is never disappointed, our heart is fulfilled, our perspective is transformed, and our lives are lived differently in light of all that He is.

There is no time like this very second to lift our eyes to Jesus and find the transforming fulfillment of having Him as our focus!

Where is your focus today, friend?

May it be Jesus. 

"...let us run with endurance the race before us, looking to Jesus..."  Hebrews 12:1-2

Look to Jesus, friend.  You will find that He is all that you need.  I am looking with you.

Let's look to Jesus as the focus of our lives.

Beautiful to God Class Update ~ Sessions 5, 6 & 7

We have had such amazing times looking to Jesus together at the Beautiful to God Class the past 3 sessions!

Together we have looked at:

Session 5 - The Power of a Pure Heart: We looked at the motivation for purity being Matthew 5:8, the joy of Jesus purifying us, living from that purity in every area of life, and seeking to honor Him in our relationships with guys.

Session 6 - The Influence of Your Thoughts and Emotions:  We looked at God's Word being our Truth that we base our life upon, how we can get in the Truth and have it in us, and how to fight lies with Truth.

  
Session 7 - You are Perfectly Made by God:  We explored the beauty that all God does is an outflow of His character, the perfection of His plan, and the excitement of His individual plan for each of our lives as a part of the story for His glory!

Jesus is meeting us, working in our hearts, and deepening our vision to live the life He created us for in Him!

We are seeing more and more that Jesus is amazing and worthy of seeking with all that we are!