Turned From God

This morning I awoke with fear clenched tight around my heart.  This is always Satan’ s last attempt at me.  Or maybe God’s first at waking me up.  I’m sure it’s the later now that I think about it. 

For the last nearly 40 days I embarked on a Lenten journey, and after reading some of the book “A Voice From Home” I went out into the living room where my mother was on the phone with my grandmother doing a Bible study, and they began to pray.  They are changed in there Lenten journey.  All I did is give up water, there was no extra prayer, no Bible study.  In fact I think I turned farther away from God than to Him.  Thus the fear that I’m only a no good sinner.  Regardless of the evidence around me that convinces other’s otherwise.  (don’t get me wrong, I’m a sinner, and in that there is no good/ but I’ve heard enough about my redeeming qualities–blessings from the father–to know that I’m not bad.)

So why am I writing this, and on this blog instead of the first?  Because, I overcame the fear.  Wonderful blessings of people, ones that taught me how to do that.  And then I heard the prayer.  And realized that it’s not too late for Lent to have it’s impact on me.  That I can still prepare for Easter today.  That I can still be changed by the miracle of Christs resurrection.  And I am.  Because Christ is always my freedom from fear.  He is my control on my emotions.  And He is the love that sets me free.  And I blogged here, because this blog is about being changed and the joy that comes with it.  So be free and have joy.  Take heart, the Lord is with you.

The First Fruit

      Is it any wonder that the Bible has been called a love story from God to us and the first fruit of having a saved life is Love?  It stands to reason…look what love breeds in our lives.   When we feel loved by others, we are happier, and want to make people happy, we have joy.    Love gives us peace,  we know that someone cares and that makes life just a little easier to go through.   Patience, kindness and goodness are all bred from love; as are faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

      In fact not only does Paul write about the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians, he writes about love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 14; saying,

“Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails…..And now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

      Many of the things that love does not do are what Paul lists of being of a sinful nature, and the things that it does do are of the Spirit. What Paul says before he tells us what Love does or what Love is, is a testament to how much love is needed, how strong it is in life.

       “And now I will show the most excellent way.  If I speak int he tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:1-3

         As I write this, I’m studying it for the first time.  I opened my Bible with the intention of writing a blog about the first Fruit of the Spirit, and then things just came into line.  I didn’t know that the first fruit was love, but that’s the first thing God gives you when the Spirit makes it’s home.  It’s God’s greatest commandment,

                   Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  Deuteronomy 6:5

” ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.  Leviticus 19:18

 Jesus replied; ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law ands the Prophets hang on these commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:29-31

 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10:25-28

      How important must love be that we are commanded to love our God and our neighbor (whom Jesus defines as anyone in need of your love Luke 10:25-37) that many times?

      So…I’m sure that I could go on and on about this topic if I read my Bible cover to cover, but I think that I’ve hit my brain block.   My advice is to grab a Bible and open it up and read….if you need some help google “Bible verses on love.”  If you don’t own a Bible, I have links to the side to some online ones.

~Amanda~