#it was refreshing to write him as such though. one of 3 steadfast beloveds from mdzs <333< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[lanliingwang]

miss writing a-yao as the protagonist of a fanfic

[yhwhrulz]

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional for September 16

Morning

“Charity suffereth long and is kind.”

Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51

He looked beyond his death to his ascension, and for the joy that was set before him he was resolute to go through with the appointed suffering. Oh that we were equally steadfast to perform all the will of the Lord!

Luke 9:52 , Luke 9:53

They were prejudiced against the Jewish worship. The Samaritans often attacked Galileans who passed through their country to go up to the feasts at Jerusalem.

Luke 9:54

They thought it holy indignation, and so perhaps it was, but that is not to be paramount under the gospel. Love reigns in Christ’s kingdom.

Luke 9:55-58

He hoped to share the glories of the great prophet and the honours of the Messiah. Jesus honestly told him that he would have not only to fare hard but to lie hard, and this did not suit the new professor. He had chosen Christ in ignorance, but Christ had not chosen him, and therefore away he went.

Luke 9:59 , Luke 9:60

Christ himself called this man, and therefore, though he raised difficulties, grace overcame them. Natures love was strong in him, but grace gained the victory. We must make everything else secondary to serving the Lord. Ministers should leave worldly business to others, and give themselves to the preaching of the gospel.

Luke 9:61 , Luke 9:62

He who is called to the ministry should go through with it. As long as lungs and life hold out, no preacher may cease his testimony. If God has called him he must not, yea, he cannot, leave his sacred work.

1 John 4:10-14

We are surprised to learn that it was James and John who thought of destroying the unfriendly Samaritans. Had it been Peter we should not have wondered, but how could the loving John act thus? Is not this another instance of the fact that most good men, at some time or other, fail in the very grace for which they are most remarkable? How differently did the beloved disciple act and write in after days! To show the contrast let us read 1 John 4:10-14.

1 John 4:14

He was an eyewitness that Jesus did not come to destroy men’s lives; this he had seen, and could testify to it with authority.

Not to condemn the sons of men,

Did Christ, the Son of God, appear;

No weapons in his hands were seen,

No fire from heaven nor thunder there.

He came to save and not destroy,

He from opposers turned away;

Forbearing love became his joy.

And, “Be it ours henceforth,” we pray.

Evening

“Peace be to this house.”

Luke 10:1-20

Luke 10:1

The twelve had succeeded so well that our Lord enlarged the number of his evangelists, and sent them forth as itinerant preachers all over the land.

Luke 10:2

This prayer was to be offered by preachers themselves. In any other calling men are afraid of being crowded out if too many engage in it; but there is no fear of this in the Christian ministry; there cannot be too many soul-winners.

Luke 10:3

They must therefore expect trouble, and look to a higher power than their own for protection.

Luke 10:4

The king’s business required haste, and therefore the needless courtesies of life were to be omitted.

Luke 10:5 , Luke 10:6

No blessing can be lost, if not well bestowed it will come home to the giver.

Luke 10:7

They were neither to be beggars nor feasters; but, being refreshed at one hospitable table, they were to go on with their work.

Luke 10:8-15

Matthew Henry says, “To understand the wisdom of God in giving the means of grace to those who would not improve them, and denying them to those who would, we must wait for the great day of discovery.”

Luke 10:16

Christ judges himself to be treated as his ministers are, and therefore it will go hard with those who reject their message and cause them pain.

Luke 10:18

He saw him fall from his power like a meteor, suddenly and hopelessly.

Luke 10:19-20

To be elect is better than to be endowed with the greatest gifts. When we are likely to become too elated by what the Lord docs by us, it will be well to remember that what he has done for us is a far greater and safer reason for joy.

Bid, Lord, thy heralds publish loud

The peaceful blessings of thy reign;

And when they speak of sprinkled blood,

The mystery to the heart explain.

Chase the usurper from his throne,

Oh! chase him to his destined hell;

Stout-hearted sinners overcome,

And glorious in thy temple dwell.

Copyright Statement This resource was produced before 1923 and therefore is considered in the "Public Domain".

[amythechayilwoman27]

PROPHETIC WORD.

Earlier today, while I was fellowshipping in the Lord's presence.

I heard him speaking, though I didn't write it down immediately because i wanted it to minister to me first, so I prayed and danced in his presence.

Few minutes ago, the Lord reminded me to write before going to bed.

I pray the Lord speak to you and cause you to rest in him, in Jesus name🙇‍♀️

(GOD IS CALLING YOU TO REST IN HIM.)

The past few weeks, has been full of endless spiritual warfare.

Overwhelmed by the weight of heaviness.

You cried for help, but no one came to your rescue

You prayed and fasted, waiting for the raging storm to cease.

Instead, it became more fierce.

Tossed around by the unceasing tempest. You wondered when all this, will end.

When will this storm be over😭

When will peace be restored😭

When will the battle be won😭

You pondered in wonder😔

My beloved one,

You have been in the season of endless battles.

But right now, I am calling you to rest in me.

Come into my boat of rest , prepared specially for you.

Come into my boat of rest, where wounds / injuries from the battle will be healed.

Come into the boat of rest, a place of peace.

Where anxiety is exchanged with my joy.

For the joy of the Lord, will be your strength.

Come into the boat of rest, that you may experience renewal of strength.

Your time for refreshment starts now.

For you are in the season of new beginnings.

I am giving you new wineskins.

Gently and surely, you will experience wholeness.

For I want you to be whole, before you can walk into the new doors that I have prepared for you.

Suddenly, new doors will open with a bang even as old doors will be slammed.

Worry not my Precious One, i am in control.

I am watching over you.

I will keep you from the evil one.

Listen, what the enemy meant for your downfall is overturned.

I am giving you victory, in this season.

I am putting things in order.

Rest now in my presence, I will give you justice; Vengeance is mine.

Hold still, I am fighting for you.

Rest in my presence, My Precious One.

I am with you.

"Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”

Deuteronomy 32:35 BSM

"And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

Luke 18:7-8

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:14

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience."

Hebrews 4:9-11

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

Isaiah 26:3

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

"So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

Mark 6:32

"The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14

[bibleteachingbyolga]

My Beloved Toviel,

I have received your most recent letter lamenting your man’s recent fall into sin. These are the letters no angel wishes to receive. He descended slowly into the pit, you report. Too much time given to noises of the world; too little time in quiet communion. The flame grew low; temptation arrived; now he lies in darkness.

I am glad you stood by, ministering to him, even though you admit fumbling a bit. The enemy stood by too, no doubt, hissing accusations, eager to crush his hope and hand him more poison to medicate his sorrows. From our heights, we can still overhear his assaults: “How could you pretend to be a child of God? You will never rise from this. . . . It is useless to go to God. . . . He has forsaken you.” Such lies must be met constantly on the field of battle. His sons will not be so easily snatched from the Father’s hands, no matter how ashamed they feel.

As Wrath Rained Down

Now, in your ministering to your man, I am grateful to hear that you have not downplayed sin to bring comfort to the guilty. It does no good to minimize evil, but rather we direct his gaze beyond his misery to one who hung for sinners upon the cross.

Cross. Toviel, I shudder to even write the word. He entered his own creation, and his people rejected him. And oh, what a rejection.

Do you remember it? When the betrayer led his enemies in the garden that night, we assembled ready to chop off more than just an ear. Twelve legions of our finest soldiers stood armed for war. But we awaited a command that never came. Christ bid us, instead, stand down. His plans — praise be to God — soared higher than ours.

And do you recall the horror you felt as sinful hands grabbed the ark of God and robed his mortal frame in anguish? Eternal strength — now with bloody back and brow — could not reach the hilltop with his cross. As wrath rained down upon him, the fountains of living waters dried up, crying, “I thirst!”

Behold him, the blessed God, half dead, stapled to the tree, accursed. We could not even recognize him as a man. As bait on a hook, he dangled over the mouth of the pit.

He Became Sin

Toviel, ask him why this Shepherd allowed himself to become a mangled mass of tilled flesh and raw wounds. Ask your pit-fallen man how such a Lord came to such a throne. And give our Master’s wounds a voice to reply.

Each gash, each stripe, each bloody pool upon the surface of his flesh, shrieked, in the first place, against sin. All questioning whether God might, in the end, sweep iniquity under the rug — “letting bygones be bygones” — was put to death. The arrows God’s people shot up at the stars fell back to earth upon his mortal frame, bringing heavenly violence upon his human head.

Here, at the most awful and wonderful of places, convened the terrible reunion of all his people’s lies and lusts. In attendance was every itch of their pride; hunched over him stood every sexual fantasy, every shy smile at the failings of others, every lurch for significance apart from God, every neglect of loving God with all and neighbor as himself. For every dare of God’s patience, every abuse of his forbearance, every exchange of his glory for passing pleasures, Christ died. “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Returning to Adam’s nakedness, the Holy One hung below this incredible caption: He became sin. Every filth long-forgotten by his people now emerged from the shadows, climbed from their holes to crawl upon the spotless Lamb. He embraced to his bosom the shame and pollution of their sin, invited the jagged tools of torture and the crushing wrath of his Father that their crimes had aggravated. He was “stricken for the transgression of my people” (Isaiah 53:8).

Here is the offspring God promised the woman — the fangs piercing his heel as he presses down upon the serpent’s skull. Here is Abraham’s ram caught in the thicket, struck by his Father’s flint knife to let Isaacs like your man go free. Here in pitch blackness, in a well so deep, in darkness so mighty, agonizing for every breath, flashes forth righteous anger as God extinguishes upon that horrid candlestick. “He bore the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12).

His Wounds Speak Love

Yet the cross also manifests another momentous word, a word reverberating with hope, even in the darkest pits: love, Toviel, amazing love. His pierced hands dripped affection. His bloody crown glimmered with purchased grace. His flickering eyes reflected the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. His stapled feet traveled, with undeniable passion, after his wandering sheep. His lacerated back carried sinners from the depths of hell, bringing them safely to his Father.

Bid your man’s troubled soul to remember the cross, as the Lord himself directed them. Remember the blood of the new covenant poured out for his sins. Bid your man drink this sweetest wine to warm his faltering heart. Remember the bread of Christ’s body broken for him; remind him, over and over again, that his Shepherd laid down his life while he was yet a sinner. Here is the holy ground, upon which the best sermons of their most worthy preachers must remove their sandals and bow low in adoration.

Read to His Soul

Satan’s design against your man, of course, bids him to consider his sin more than his Savior; his disease more than the cure; his deformity more than his Redeemer’s beauty. When your man’s eyes fall to the ground, lift them to Christ. It does not honor the physician, nor restore the mortal gash, to stay away and let wounds fester.

Make no mistake: he must hear, “go and sin no more,” but first remind him of his Savior’s very name: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sin” (Matthew 1:21). Bring his guilty soul to God’s glorious book to read:

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law. . . the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:21–22).

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised” (Romans 8:34).

“Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

Should such words not glow the brighter rather than fade from view before his sin?

Not in Part

Though he lingers in the shadowy world where his children still sigh and groan over real corruption remaining in their flesh, day will break — Sunday followed that Friday. As he perseveres in the faith, your man will soon enter the realm where song flows more natural than speech, where steadfast love overwhelms as the waves do pebbles upon the shore.

There, happiness will ever swell as the lyric becomes more radiant, “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity” (Psalm 32:2). And his voice will gain more vigor to sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive all glory!”

Direct your man’s fallen gaze to consider him — and keep considering him — who endured from sinners such hostility against himself that he might not grow weary or fainthearted. Let the sight refresh his lips to sing from his heart before his flesh and the devil:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Your Dearest Uncle, Gabriel

In The Gabriel Letters, a senior angel (Gabriel) counsels a junior angel (Toviel) on how to assist a human against the temptations of demons and how to bring him home to heaven. This series is inspired by the classic work of C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.

[stephenaltrogge-blog]

I never imagined I would be so tired of being in my house. 

Why, I haven’t been to Walmart in over a month. Haven’t gotten together with my children or grandchildren in person. Haven’t gotten together with our friends. I sit on my couch and watch our church services on YouTube. This is a crazy time.

I can’t imagine how horrible this time is for so many. People who have lost loved ones. People who have been horrifically afflicted by this virus. Hospital and personal care home workers. People in poor nations who can’t get food. Unimaginable. My pathetic “shut in season” is nothing compared to what multitudes have to endure.

Actually, for every believer, much of the Christian life is about enduring.

When I first became a believer, I pretty much believed that all my troubles were over. And my biggest trouble was truly over. Jesus had borne the wrath that I deserved in my place on the cross. But my troubles weren’t all over. Little did I realize as a new believer, that the Bible is full of verses about the need for believers in Jesus to persevere and endure many troubles in this life.

Believers will suffer. It’s not all health and wealth, folks. We will suffer. But in our suffering, we also have hope that unbelievers don’t have. Here are a few verses that say Christians will suffer:

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears

and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19

There are times we will be brokenhearted. Times we will be crushed in spirit. We won’t go through just a few afflictions, but “many.” But in all these, we can call on the Lord and he promises to be near us, save and deliver us.

So how do we endure? How can we persevere?

First of all, we endure in God’s strength, which he promises to supply:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus… 2 Timothy 2:1

Paul didn’t encourage believers to live the Christian life in their own strength, but in God’s strength. Supernatural strength. The very strength provided by the maker of the universe.

Second, we endure by “looking to Jesus” to see how he endured. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and 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

Jesus endured more than we can ever imagine. He endured the hatred, unbelief and rejection by the religious leaders of His day. He endured the weakness of his disciples, and their abandonment when He was arrested. He endured the beating, scourging and mocking by Roman soldiers, then endured being nailed to the cross, and hanging there in unbelievable pain for 6 hours, while the Jewish leaders continued to mock and insult Him. And the most unimaginable thing He endured was when His Father credited all our sins to Jesus as if he had committed them, then poured out his wrath upon Him and punished him for all of our sins. In essence, Jesus experienced hell on the cross. Yet He endured this for the glory of His Father and our salvation.

How did Jesus endure all he did? When we look to Jesus’ endurance what do we see?

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus endured the cross by keeping his eyes on “the joy that was set before him.” He kept his eyes on the throne of God, where he would reign. He kept his eyes on the glory he would enjoy in heaven. 

Even in this life, we endure many things by keeping our eyes fixed on an eventual reward.

Athletes endure training and exercise and practice by looking forward to finishing a marathon, or winning a victory or simply getting in shape and feeling better. Students go to class, sit through lectures, write papers and study for exams because they look forward to getting a job.

How much more may we endure in this life by looking forward to the day we will be with Jesus, face to face.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Someday we will not have to endure any more. Jesus will wipe all our tears away. There will be no more affliction, sadness, heartbreak, disappointment. No more sickness, pain, fear, anxiety, depression. Nothing to worry about.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

We are God’s children. He loves us. As our Heavenly Father, he will protect and help and pour out his steadfast love upon his children. But wonderful things are coming – in heaven we will be like Christ. “We know that when he appears we shall be like him.” We shall be sinless. We shall be perfectly conformed to Jesus. We shall reflect his glory.

C.S. Lewis said:

“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.”

Of course we will not be “gods and goddesses,” but we will be “like” Christ. We will be filled with his beauty and glory. We will be sinless. We will be transformed into his likeness. 

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29

This is what God is doing in us in this life. Everything God brings into our lives or allows to come into our lives is to make us more and more like Jesus. Whatever we go through is designed by God to conform us more and more into the likeness of Christ. 

That is how we endure. By continually looking to Jesus, and by fixing our gaze on him and what he fixed his gaze on – heaven and its joys and rewards and glory.

Third, we endure by crying out to God, and asking him to help us.

God tells us to bring all our cares and worries and needs to him.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah Psalm 46:1-3

We endure by running to our “refuge and strength,” our “very present help in trouble.” By crying out to him.

Fourth, we endure by regularly taking in God’s word:

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word! Psalm 119:28

God’s word strengthens us. As we regularly meditate on God’s word, we will be like trees planted by streams that refresh us. And despite suffering we will bear good fruit in season. Our “leaf does not wither” – we keep going. We keep enduring. We keep producing fruit.

We endure by fixing our eyes on Jesus, by keeping our eyes on the goal: seeing him face to face and being with him and like him in heaven. We endure by regularly meditating on his word and crying out to him in prayer.

There are many other ways we endure: by fellowshipping with the saints, by seeking to serve others, by rejoicing in all things, by praising and thanking God constantly. 

Let us make our goal to bring God as much glory as we can while going through the trials of this life, both large and small, knowing that someday he will reward us.

Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU from Pexels

The post 4 Ways To Endure Through The Hardships Of Life appeared first on The Blazing Center.

[hoseastudy]

Day 57:  Perfect Peace

Perfect Peace.

These two words stir in my heart as I go through each day and I very often share them with others.  I feel like lately the Lord has opened my eyes to see that this perfect peace He lavishes on even me, that it is not only one of His greatest gifts to me, but also, now having received it, it is one of the greatest gifts and treasures I can share with others.  I would even go so far as to say that sharing this perfect peace may be one of the greatest callings on my life.  I feel like deep down everyone is longing for and searching for perfect peace possibly more than any other desire of their heart.  So today as I share my life verse with you, we will bring to a sweet close this study and I want to end it with a most precious gift to you friend...a treasure I hope that you will always hold close to your heart:  perfect peace.

Isaiah 26:3  The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.

​

steadfast - sâmak

mind - yêtser

keep - nâtsar

Brown-Driver-Brigg's Definitionto lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean uponto lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean againstto support, uphold, sustainto support or brace oneselfto sustain, refresh, revive

​Brown-Driver-Brigg's Definitionform, framing, purpose, frameworkformpotterygraven imageman (as formed from the dust) purpose, imagination, device (intellectual framework) 

​Brown-Driver-Brigg's Definitionto guard, watch, watch over, keepto watch, guard, keepto preserve, guard from dangersto keep, observe, guard with fidelityto guard, keep secretto be kept close, be blockadedwatchman

perfect peace - shâlôm

trusts - bâṭach

Brown-Driver-Brigg's Definitioncompleteness, soundness, welfare, peacecompleteness (in number)safety, soundness (in body)welfare, health, prosperitypeace, quiet, tranquillity, contentmentpeace, friendshipof human relationshipswith God especially in covenant relationshippeace (from war)peace (as adjective)

Brown-Driver-Brigg's Definitionto trustto trust, trust into have confidence, be confidentto be boldto be secureto cause to trust, make secureto feel safe, be careless

This verse is a promise friends.  It's a promise for you as much as it is a promise for me!  I believe the promises we find in scripture are like nuggets of pure gold to be cherished!  This particular promise

 states that if we maintain a state of being, purpose, or a state of mind of leaning on the Lord, resting upon Him, bracing ourself under His protection, that we will be kept as a watchmen guards those under his post in time of war, kept as in watched over, guarded, preserved, kept close, kept secret, blockaded!  We are promised to be kept in perfect peace, completeness, soundness, quiet, tranquility, contentment, friendship by our COVENANT KEEPING GOD!  Why?  Because we have put our confidence boldly in Him!  We can feel completely safe and careless under the shelter of His arms of love!

Thank You Jesus!  Thank You Lord!  What an amazing promise!  What amazing love!  Hallelujah!  Thank You!

What does walking in perfect peace practically look like in my life?  

Abiding in Christ.  

"....apart from Me, you can do NOTHING." John 15:5

When I wake up in the morning, I try to wake up turning my heart to Him, thankful for a new day.  

I go downstairs and get a cup of coffee and I sit in His presence in prayer and worship.  I meditate on scripture as a practical way to put Him first in my day and in my heart.  I go into this time as to receive nourishment from my soul, as to receive my daily bread.

Usually during my quiet time I'll pick one word to take hold of and meditate on all day.  This helps me remember and retain the key truths the Lord spoke to my heart.

After I stand up from my time with Him, I try to take steps in obedience, listening to and heeding His voice.  I try to do this out of a place of rest and out of a heart of love and not in striving.  This includes treating my family and others with the kindness and grace and patience that He has poured over me.  This includes embracing others in need as He leads me.  

When I start to stress or when hard things come, this is my prayer all day long,

"I trust You Lord."

"I resubmit to You."

"Open my eyes Lord to see from Your perspective."

I listen to pandora or my worship music as I go throughout each day.  A few of my favorite stations right now are Indellible Grace, All Sons and Daughters, Elevation Worship, Audrey Assad, Kim Walker-Smith and Will Reagan.

I claim the promise when I need it that if I just keep my mind steadfast in trusting in Him that I will be kept in perfect peace.  I do my best to believe it and receive it and walk in it!

When I find myself letting fear and anxiety take root in my heart and mind, I try my best to not let it go too far.  I've been down that road before and it is not a place I want to live my life.  I'd rather be free!

I listen to podcasts in the afternoon to refresh my perspective.  I'll put one on my phone as I do laundry or dishes or while driving or running.  You can download a podcast app on your phone to make it super easy.  I use downcast.  

My favorite podcasts are:

http://inspiredtoaction.com/thepodcast/

http://godcenteredmom.com

http://homefries.com/shows/the-simple-mom-podcast/

I also listen to Francis Chan's sermons on youtube :)  

I get on my knees.

When I can't seem to overcome, I text my friends and mentors to pray for me!  

I realize that perfection will not be actualized in Tessa this side of eternity and those of you who know me well know all to well that I'm not perfect.  I am very much bent towards anxiety, stress, and pressure.  This does not mean that I have to go down that road though.  I will continue to have to depend on the Lord moment by moment for this peace and I will most likely go through seasons of hardening my heart to the Lord and fear and anxiety will soon come knocking at my door in those times.  I just hope to have the wisdom to not tarry long in my sin and CHOOSE to repent and soften my heart to the Lord ASAP!  It is always my choice.  I can choose to go at it alone on my terms and carry my own burdens or I can choose to trust in the Lord and cast my burdens on Him and have perfect peace.  

I took this photo running by the river near my home this past week.  As I was running I was remembering the photo I took on the run I was on when

the Lord first planted the seed to write this study on the book of Hosea.  I'm so grateful for the time in between and for the blessing of having you running this race beside me during this time!  

Jesus thank You for loving me so much more than I could ever put into words.  In the middle of my harlotry and idolatry, You paid the ultimate price for me.  Daily as my heart is turning to things that can never satisfy or profit or deliver, all of Your compassions are kindled toward me and You sing Your love song over me.  You whisper in my ear to just sit and stop striving and just know You and and rest in You.  You open my eyes to see that it's my heart that You desire.  You gently remind me of who I am to You - beloved, accepted, dearly loved and cherished.  Thank You Jesus, I trust in You, I submit to You.  In Your precious and holy name, amen.

Philippians 4:7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:12LORD, You establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished You have done for us.

Colossians 3:15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

John 14:27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Perfect Peace and agape love be multiplied in you and through you and all around you day by day beloved!

Have a God day!

Love, Tessa

[tj-van-heerden]

Love in the New Testament 2 of 2

Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Eph 4:15, 16 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Eph 5:1, 2 1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

Eph 5:28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Eph 6:23, 24 23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

Phil 1:9 This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

Phil 2:1, 2 1 If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, 2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

Col 1:4 having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,

Col 1:7, 8 7 even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Col 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,

Col 2:2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

Col 3:14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

1Thess 1:3, 4 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. 4 We know, brothers* loved by God, that you are chosen,

1Thess 3:6 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you,

1Thess 3:12 May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you

1Thess 4:9 But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

1Thess 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Thess 5:12, 13 But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13 and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake.

2Thess 1:3 We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,

2Thess 2:10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Thess 2:13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth

2Thess 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace

2Thess 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love, and into the perseverance of Christ.

1Tim 1:5 but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith

1Tim 1:14 The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1Tim 2:15 but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

1Tim 4:12 Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

1Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2Tim 1:7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

2Tim 1:13 Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2Tim 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2Tim 3:2-5 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

2Tim 3:10, 11 10 But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 11 persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all.

2Tim 4:8 From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

2Tim 4:10 for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.

Titus 1:7-9 7 For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

Titus 2:2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance: 3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good,

Titus 2:4 that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children

Titus 3:4, 5 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Phlm 1:4, 5 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,

Phlm 1:7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Phlm 1:8, 9 8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

Heb 10:24 Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works

Heb 12:6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

Heb 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”

Jas 1:12 Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

Jas 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

Jas 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

1Pet 1:7, 8 whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory

1Pet 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,

1Pet 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

1Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

1Pet 3:10 For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

1Pet 4:8 And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

2Pet 1:5-7 5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; 7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

2Pet 2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;

1John 2:5, 6 But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.

1John 2:10 He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.

1John 2:15 Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

1John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.

1John 3:10, 11 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.

1John 3:16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?

1John 3:18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

1John 3:23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

1John 4:7-12 7 Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. 8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. 9 By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice* for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

1John 4:16-21 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

1John 5:1-3 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

2John 1:1 The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth

2John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2John 1:5, 6 Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

3John 1:1 The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

3John 1:6 They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God

3John 1:9 I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.

Jude 1:2 Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood—

Rev 2:4 But I have this against you, that you left your first love.

Rev 2:19 “I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.

Rev 3:9 Behold, I give some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Rev 12:11 They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.

Rev 20:9 They went up over the width of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them.

Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.