ROMANS 14

Today’s post was inspired by a timely message given by Beth Guckenberger who is serving as Interim Pastor for a local church here, The Vineyard Cincinnati.

I’ve written many posts highlighting my friend Beth. She and her husband took and assignment from God some 20+ years ago to begin a great work caring for orphans.

Back2Back

“Back2Back Ministries is the best orphan care organization operating in the world today.”

-Steve Biondo, President, Tim Tebow Foundation

This year, Back2Back launched a new global ministry, TRAMA FREE WORLD.

Breaking the cycle of childhood trauma

Trauma Free World is a community dedicated to helping people around the world heal from childhood trauma. We are headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA and offer training all around the world, as well as online for anyone with an internet connection or mobile phone. Trauma Free World partners with leading trauma researchers to adapt cutting edge trauma research into training that is accessible to all, regardless of literacy level, and applicable across cultures.

I hope you will take a look at these life changing ministries, and prayerfully consider participating in them!

Beth’s Message comes from Romans 14. “How to Love When We Disagree!” You can listen below…I promise you will be greatly encouraged by it!

doodle-101-romans-14-bearDownload

Doodle 101 / Jar

Hello!

I was reading in John 12 about Mary..

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

– John 12:3

I’ve heard this story and have read it before, but the truth the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart this time related to the last sentence.

“The house was FILLED with the FRAGRANCE of the perfume.”

That hit me hard.  Is my home FILLED with the FRAGRANCE of LOVE born out of SACRIFICE?

I use this quote from GREG BOYD often, because it is one of my favorite definitions of LOVE.  Love is putting others BEFORE myself…there is a cost in that, YET our Heavenly Father BLESSES us through this kind of obedient sacrifice.  Can you believe that?!!!  He has designed our obedience to be challenging, yet the reward is FAR GREATER!

I want my home to be fragrant with the perfume of sacrifice, born out of LOVE.  When my family or friends walk in, I want them to smell it!

Praying for that reminder each day.

Hope you enjoy your weekend!  “Pour out” some LOVE on others!

Blessings,

Doodle 101 / Love is

This quote is from Greg Boyd.  

I first heard him speak at one of our local churches, and his definition has stuck with me ever since.

Hope it resonates with you today.

“We love because he first loved us.”  – 1 John 4:19

Blessings to you this Lord’s day:)

There is an enemy, and he is not our neighbor

I strive to LOVE my fellow man, and to fight against the spiritual forces of evil that desire to kill and destroy and steal from us.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” -Ephesians 6

“The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.” -John 10:10

But then Jesus, how should we live an abundant life among those who we don’t see “eye to eye?”

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:36-40

It’s a waste of our LOVE to taint it with judgement…for that is not love at all.  Love does not win if we focus on ourselves or on our differences. Putting others before ourselves is what God is asking us to do…and we CANNOT do that apart from Him.  The enemy’s plan is to divide us.  God’s plan is to unite us.  Until we take the time to know our God for ourselves, spending time with Him and His Word, which is CHrist…we cannot see beyond our limited human mind.

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. “(only through the revelation of the Holy Spirit) 1 Corinthians 2:16

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”    Jeremiah 29:13

I choose to LOVE.

Father, please grow my desire to seek you with my WHOLE heart and to LOVE as you have LOVED.

Blessings,

Doodle 101 / Love

Good Morning!   Just a quick Doodle tutorial today:)

I had to add some color…

Praying you are finding time to be with the Lord today as you doodle:)

I’m listening to Kari Jobe …

Bless you!

Repurposed book : Saturday page

We all have people in our lives that make us smile…

just thinking about them turns up the corners of your mouth:)

Their joy spills over, saturating your every pore with good feelings…

taking control… all over your face.

Here’s to your next smile-fest…God bless the smile-bringers.