Is Love Blind?

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calling, charity, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, encouragement, family devotions, love, love is blind, love is not blind, loving our neighbor, loving people, loving smart

Is love really blind? We’ve heard that phrase all of our lives. Actually, since Chaucer around 1405, generations of people have heard that “love is blind.” But, is it true?

Philippians 1:9-10 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent [distinguish between things which differ] in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” Philippians tells us that love is not blind. In fact, it really tells us that love makes us smarter, more discerning, not less.

Vanna Bonta said, “Love is not blind. Love sees what is most true.” That’s right on, isn’t it? Think about our God. First John 4:16 tells us that “God is love”. We know God isn’t blind to our faults, so why would we think His love in us would make us blind? John 3:16 proves this. It says that God loved the world and then gave His only Son to die for us. If love made God blind to our faults, He would not have seen our sin. He would not have seen our need for a Savior. But, because His love is never blind He discerned the most excellent path for all mankind. Just as God’s love gives Him discernment, His love in us will do the same.

Maybe you guys are great in this area, but I confess that I have often held back my love from an individual because I wanted to “stay smart” and “keep a level head”. In actuality, I’ve been shooting myself in the foot. When I love people as God loves me and has empowered me to love, I get a discernment that I otherwise would not have. Loving people makes me smarter. I’ve had it backwards all along! Shocking! I know!

Loving people makes us able to see and think more clearly. It doesn’t make us blind. Verse ten of Philippians one says that love helps us to “approve the things that are excellent”. Romans 12:2 says that when we renew our minds we are able to “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” That word prove is the same root word as approve in our Philippians passage. So, when we renew our minds from thinking that love makes us blind, we can receive the truth of God’s Word that love actually makes us more aware, more perceptive, more intuitive.

Matthew 22:39 tells us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. Are we blind to our own faults? Usually we know them really well, but if we’re honest we still look out for ‘ole number one. We still want what’s best for us. Are we going to know our neighbors faults? Yes. The more we get to know them and love them, we will see their faults. But, through God’s grace He will empower us to see clearly and discern what our love should look like in every situation.

Do we need to be smart when it comes to loving people? Yes! But, what I’m finding is that when I am pressed in hard to the Lord He whispers things I need to know. When I love Him as I am supposed to (with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength) I can love others as He has planned. It doesn’t become co-dependent, or in a direction He never intended, it stays smart and active and pure. When it’s His love in me, it’s a love that is guaranteed to be smart, strong, invasive and very discerning.

Don’t be scared. Love is not blind. Love is all seeing, all knowing and ever willing to help us engage, discern and perceive the right way to cherish each individual as God has called us to. Let’s decide to love people as God intended for us to love.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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Does God Love Me?

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Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, devotional, devotions, discipleship, encouragement, falling in love with Jesus, family devotions, God, God the father, God's child, God's love, lavish love, love

If someone were to ask you how much God the Father loves Jesus, what would you say? Would you go to John 17 where Jesus describes how the Father has loved Him from the beginning of time? Would you mention when Jesus was baptized that God Himself spoke words of affirmation over Him? Would you describe how a good parent loves their child? Would you remember that Jesus and God (and the Spirit) have been one from before time began? Would you remember that their relationship is indescribable, a perfect unit, a synergy of light and love that simply is unknown to us? I dare say words would eventually fail. The more we would think we could describe it, the more we would realize how short we come in the description. God’s love for Jesus is indescribable. No words, no thoughts, no descriptions could even come close and we would realize that very quickly.

Now, if someone were to ask you how much the Father loves you, what would you say? Would you remember all the Bible verses you have been taught over the years? Would you get a concordance to look it up, or ask Siri? Would you allow yourself to melt into the fact that His love for you is amazing and lavish, or would you kind of shrink back unsure? Would you quote the verses about love, but not quite absorb them? Would you know it mentally, but struggle with it emotionally?

Do you realize that Jesus Himself says that Father God loves us as much as He loves Him? Yes, you read that right. Jesus Himself in John 17:23 says that God loves us just like He loves His own Son. These are His words: “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.”

“…even as Thou didst love Me!”

Jesus in all His perfection.

Us in all our imperfection.

Jesus is all His splendor.

Us in all our filthy rags.

Jesus in all His fulfillment.

Us in all our need.

Jesus – the precious Lamb of God.

Us – the ones needing the Lamb.

Jesus in all His sinlessness.

Us in all our sinfulness.

Jesus – the same yesterday, today and forever.

Us – the ever changing ones.

Jesus – loved for all eternity.

Us – loved for all eternity, equally, the same.

How can it be?! It’s simply mind-boggling!

All my life I have known that Jesus loves me (at least to some degree). After all, He died for me, right? As I little girl I would belt out the precious song, “Jesus, Loves Me. Yes, Jesus Loves Me”, but, I didn’t usually think about the Father’s love as much. When I would think about it, I could never grasp how a parent (humanly speaking) could sacrifice their Son for others and then there’s the fact that Jesus talks about laying down His own life. So, it was easier at times to just remember Jesus died for me instead of thinking about the Father’s role in it all. But as I came across this verse in John 17, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the Father’s love for us, for me. I couldn’t deny it any longer. Things made more sense. Why would you sacrifice your child for anyone? You would sacrifice them only if you loved the person that needed the sacrifice as much as you loved the child being sacrificied. That’s the only reason. Not because it’s the plan, or the right thing to do, but only if you loved the thing being sacrificed for as much as the sacrifice itself. Jesus Himself confirms this in John 17. He tells us that His Father (and ours) loves us as much as He loves Him. I honestly think if Jesus Himself didn’t say it, I would still be making excuses. Only Jesus could make me believe the truth of this. Will Jesus be honored and glorified more than us? Of course, He’s God and just like any big brother who sacrificies all so the family can be safe and secure He alone deserves it, but as far as love from the Father? We have just as much. Amazing!

First John 3:1 says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”

Galatians 4:4-7 says,”but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Just as any parent of an adopted child will tell you, the love for biological children and adopted children do not vary, so it is with our God. A child is a child to Him. Jesus. Me. You. Loved the same. Loved for all time and beyond. Loved lavishly and completely. Absorb that to the marrow of your bones. Rest in that today. You are loved.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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Can Perfect Peace be Found?

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all things for good, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, continual peace, devotional, devotions, encouragement, exhaustion, family devotions, focus, focusing on the Lord, God, how to have peace, hunting for peace, peace, peace on earth, perfect peace, trust

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: for he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

I love these verses. In fact, if you have ever received a card, or an e-mail from me, most likely these verses were below my name. I don’t know if it’s what I would consider my life verse, but it’s a seasonal verse for sure. After all, how can you resist the only formula known to man for peace that actually works? It’s not only true because it’s the Word of God, but I also know from experience how true it really is.

Think about it. When you are upset about a situation, or something that is on the horizon, or even an emergency that hits, are you more peaceful when you keep replaying the event over and over in your mind, or when you speak the name of Jesus? Are you more peaceful in an emergency room thinking about what all the doctor may choose to do, or when you are focusing on the fact that God is your ultimate Healer?

I was just sitting in a doctor’s office yesterday and let me tell you I was letting my mind run away with me. What if she thinks I’m nuts? What if she takes a biopsy? What if she wants a biopsy and makes me come back? What if she draws my blood? How much will all this cost? Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me to focus on Him. My mind was in such a dither that all I could do was whisper the name of Jesus. Eventually, I was able to go through some ABC’s of who God is… “God, you are amazing. I trust You. God, you are bold. I trust You. God, you are compassionate. I trust You…” I was even able to remember a few Scriptures and say those as well. Which helped me more? You know it! Focusing on the Lord.

Let’s open these verses a little more and see how the Amplified Bible translates them. It says: “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

These verses tell us that not only is perfect peace possible, but constant peace as well! Constant peace! How do we get it? With a steadfast mind. What is a steadfast mind? It says that a steadfast mind is committed and focused on the Lord.

I can be committed to something without being focused on it at all times. I am committed to my husband, but I am not focused on him continually (Sorry, honey.). That’s why we have to commit to date nights, hikes in the woods together and conversations where we are looking each other in the eye without distractions. Our commitment stays strong when we focus on each other.

When we commit ourselves to God, no doubt we are all in, but our focus can shift at times. Life can crowd in on us. So, these verses remind us to not only commit, but focus like a laser beam on who He is. Then, the peace we all crave reigns in our life.

The next part of these verses say, “Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].”

We have peace because we are focused on Him and who He is. When we are focused on Him, we are pressed in to Him as close as we can get. We are trusting and taking refuge in Him and this gives us hope which leads to confidence in what He is going to do in our lives.

Think about a hunter who has been sitting in his deer stand for hours when all of a sudden his target pops over the horizon. Do you think he is looking anywhere but at his target? His confident hope has been focused on this objective all morning. He is laser focused on his commitment to feed his family with this deer. That’s how we need to be with God. We need to remember that He provides for us in every way, so our commitment to Him keeps us focused on who He is. God is our prey and our minds are the gun. And, the strength to stay on target? The Holy Spirit.

So, when I am sitting in the doctor’s office and remember (focus in on the fact) that my God is good and that there is no darkness in Him at all (I John 1:5) I have a confident hope that even if the doctor tells me bad news, God is not a mean God. He is good and has good in it for me. When I am sitting in the doctor’s office and I am remembering that God is my Provider, I start to rehearse what miracles of provision has already taken place and I then look with confident hope at how God will provide for these expenses as well. We are able to confidently hope when our minds are focused on Him. When we have hope, we are strong because He is our strength and His strength is everlasting. It never runs out.

Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” He’s left His peace for us to take hold of, so let’s grab it and shine like the stars we are meant to be, (Philippians 2:16).

My Story to Peace

Seeking Hearts Ministries

What’s Your Name?

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adopted, calling, children of God, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, encouragement, exhaustion, family devotions, names, new man, new names, our new name, redeemed, super heroes

Yesterday, as I was seated in the orthodontist office waiting for my youngest to be finished I saw a beautiful little girl. She was cute as a speckled pup and I couldn’t resist exchanging smiles with her over and over. Of course, I had to ask her mom her name and she replied, “Arabella”. Isn’t that beautiful? But, that’s not the point. The point is when we said her name she lit up. She knew that we were talking about her and she liked it!

It made me think of another incident this week on a television show called “Agents of Shield”. One of the people who were endowed with special powers was simply performing on the street until someone gave him a name. After he realized his “powers” were something worth being named, he became a totally different person. As the good guys were trying to subdue him, he said, “I am Scorch” and the main guy looked at another agent and said, “Oh no, someone gave him a name.”

I think that’s exactly what the devil says when we understand who we are in Christ. When we start knowing and calling ourselves “Redeemed”, “Beloved”, “Son”, “Daughter” I think he sits on his heels and thinks, “Well, it’s over now. They know their name.”

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” If everything about us has changed, you know our name has as well. This is God’s way. Remember Abram? Probably not as well as Abraham. Sarai? She is now named Sarah.  Jacob? He’s Israel. Simon? He’s Peter? Saul of the New Testament? Paul. God has changed everything about you, including your name.

So, what might your name be? Might it be “Forgiven?” Of course it is. When you ask, you are indeed forgiven (First John 1:9). “Dearly Loved?” Yes, that too (First John 4:10). “Wanted”? Song of Solomon 7:10 says, “I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me.” You are all of these things and more.

So, who are you in Christ? Ask Him to whisper it to your soul. Ask Him to seep it into the marrow of your bones. Ask Him to let you hear Him sing it over you tonight and then wear your name well, dear one. Wear it well because you have a new name and as soon as you know it, you will become the powerful warrior that God called into existence the minute you received Him. Hear Him call your name. You will never be the same.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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Confessions of a Closet Hoarder

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Christian encouragement, Christianity, daily bread, daily provision, encouragement, faith, grapefruit, hoarding, Lord's provision, messy stuff, needs, provision, saving, trust, wants

This morning as I was eating my grapefruit, things became a little messy. I probably need to explain that I eat my grapefruit like an orange. I peel it and then I go a bit further than most. I continue on and peel the inner skin as well. It only leaves the pulp and all I can say is that it is super yummy. Strange to some of you, and yes, it’s a lot of prep work, but …mmmmm….only grapefruit pulp? Well worth it. As you can imagine though, it gets quite messy at times. (I actually won’t eat citrus in public so my family won’t crawl under the table in embarrassment.)

As I was eating my grapefruit, I had already grabbed two paper towels and thought it would be plenty, but this particular grapefruit was extra juicy. Juice was running everywhere! As that lovely grapefruit goodness was running down my arms, I felt like a sticky mess and I began to argue with myself about getting another paper towel. I thought one more would be excessive. I thought it would not be frugal to grab another. ‘What if I have three paper towels with every grapefruit? Wouldn’t my grocery budget explode?’ I thought. Finally, I got up to get another paper towel in order to finish my grapefruit in comfort. As I took hold of it, I thought, ‘God provided these paper towels. Go ahead and use them. He provided them.’ I realized that He had this paper towel roll sitting on the counter just for me for this very moment. He knew I would need extra and it was already there, but I was so worried about having paper towels for the rest of the month, I refused to use the blessing right in front of me. If my God counts the hairs on my head as Matthew 10:30 says, wouldn’t He care about paper towels that I need?

It made me wonder how many times I save, or even hoard, His blessings in the now because I am afraid He won’t provide for me in the future.  I don’t say that, but that’s how I live.

Jesus prayed to His Father in Matthew 6 to “give us this day our daily bread”. That’s how we are taught to trust. We need to trust Him for daily provision. But, if I have “bread” stored up for weeks, just in case some tragedy happens, who am I really trusting in? Am I trusting in God, or how smart I’ve been to prepare? I do believe in being responsible, but when God tells us to give, we need to give. That’s what I’m learning.

I am finding that when I refuse to give as God directs, I am telling Him that I don’t trust Him for my future. If He tells me to give a bag of beans to someone and I refuse because I only have one, not two, I am telling Him that I don’t believe He will give me that bag of beans tomorrow, or whenever I need them. When He tells me to give a certain amount to church and I only give a partial amount, I am showing Him (and myself) that my trust only goes so far. He knows my trust level, but this allows me to see clearly, to see that my faith may not be what I thought it was, or say that it is.

Psalm 65:11 says, “Thou hast crowned the year with Thy bounty, and Thy paths drip with fatness.” If I believe that Christ’s bounty is around every corner of this year, why would I hoard anything? If I know His mercies are new every morning as Lamentations 3:22-23 tells me, why am I hoarding mercy for myself and not extending it to others? Why would I not give that mercy to others today?

Deuteronomy 8:7-10 says, “For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you shall not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you shall eat and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.” If I really believe He is bringing me into a good land, why would I hold anything back that He is asking me to give?

I’m finding that it’s all about leaving my hands open, not just to receive, but to give. Oftentimes I have only had my hands open to receive, but then I would quickly close them after receiving a blessing and hoard it for my family. Now, I am praying to keep my hands open to give as well as receive.

When my hand is laying open to give, I am finding that I am receiving more as well. I suppose it’s common sense, but I had never realized it before. As my hand lays open, I don’t decide whether I’m giving or receiving so now both can actually happen concurrently. As long as my hand is open to give, it is also open to receive and God allows this continuous flow to take place. Am I giving so I will receive? No! I am giving because I trust in His provision. He may choose to replace those beans I wrote about earlier, or He may choose to make me learn to like rice, or broccoli, or turnips. It’s up to Him and I trust Him.

Psalm 27:13 says, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” We are in the land of the living and we will see the goodness of the Lord if we simply open our eyes and I believe, our hands as well.

So, grab a grapefruit today, get three whole paper towels. Eat it like an orange and rest assured that your God will provide. In fact, He is providing for you this very minute. He is designing your future. He is integrating relationships in your life that you never imagined were still possible. He is restoring your health and vitality. He is growing your business. He is crowning your year with goodness. It may be with daily bread, or cups running over, but His sovereign hand has you exactly where you need to be. He is here. What more do you need?

Seeking Hearts Ministries

Lonely?