Thursday, October 29, 2009

Unfailing love


I'm not here to preach, however, my strong faith and spirituality keeps me going through turbulent times as well as enhancing the good times. My faith in God is mixed in with my "Peace, Love and Happiness" in all ways . . .

Hope you can find some meaning in the following words . . . they speak volumes to me . . .




Unfailing Love

by Max Lucado

“Love,” Paul says, “never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8 NIV).

The verb Paul uses for the word fail is used elsewhere to describe the demise of a flower as it falls to the ground, withers, and decays. It carries the meaning of death and abolishment. God’s love, says the apostle, will never fall to the ground, wither, and decay. By its nature, it is permanent. It is never abolished.

Love “will last forever” (NLT).

It “never dies” (MSG).

It “never ends” (RSV).

Love “is eternal” (TEV).

God’s love “will never come to an end” (NEB).

Love never fails.


Governments will fail, but God’s love will last. Crowns are temporary, but love is eternal. Your money will run out, but his love never will.

How could God have a love like this? No one has unfailing love. No person can love with perfection. You’re right. No person can. But God is not a person. Unlike our love, his never fails. His love is immensely different from ours.

Our love depends on the receiver of the love. Let a thousand people pass before us, and we will not feel the same about each. Our love will be regulated by their appearance, by their personalities. Even when we find a few people we like, our feelings will fluctuate. How they treat us will affect how we love them. The receiver regulates our love.

Not so with the love of God. We have no thermostatic impact on his love for us. The love of God is born from within him, not from what he finds in us. His love is uncaused and spontaneous.

Does he love us because of our goodness? Because of our kindness? Because of our great faith? No, he loves us because of his goodness, kindness, and great faith. John says it like this: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10 NIV).

Doesn’t this thought comfort you? God’s love does not hinge on yours. The abundance of your love does not increase his. The lack of your love does not diminish his. Your goodness does not enhance his love, nor does your weakness dilute it. What Moses said to Israel is what God says to us:

The LORD did not choose you and lavish his love on you because you were larger or greater than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! It was simply because the LORD loves you. (Deut. 7:7–8 NLT)

God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so.

He loves you when you don’t feel lovely.

He loves you when no one else loves you. Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you. Always. No matter what.

This is his sentiment: “I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved” (Rom. 9:25 MSG).

This is his promise. “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jer. 31:3 NLT).


From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado




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Simple Abundance



You simply will not be the same person two 
months from now after consciously giving 
thanks each day for the abundance
that exists in your life.  And you will have
 set in motion an ancient spiritual law: 
the more you have and are grateful
 for, the more will be given you.
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Simple Abundance





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Friday, October 23, 2009

Lucky



After having some time to sleep and ponder my life circumstances, I woke up feeling extremely lucky.

Why am I feeling lucky?

I have a chance to start my life all over again . . . a clean slate. There is someone or something else out there for me, whether it be a job or another lover who will make me feel fulfilled and happy.

I'm grateful for this revelation and hopefully the end of all the tears and hating myself for not really knowing why . . . I did nothing wrong except love a man who doesn't know how to love.


On the other hand . . . maybe I'm being too impatient . . . I don't know.  

In the meantime, I love jeans . . . and myself!







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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Understanding trust


You may have a greater sense of loyalty to your loved ones today. Even though you might have experienced betrayal in the past, being able to trust those you care about could deepen your devotion and increase your commitment to support them in their endeavors. Perhaps today you can better understand your ability to feel dedicated to others by considering what you bring to a relationship that produces trust. You might try thinking back to a time when someone entrusted you with personal information and reflect upon what you did in that situation. If they were able to count on you, you may ask yourself what it is that makes you trustworthy. Recognizing how others rely on you could make it easier to give your loved ones your full moral support.

Understanding our ability to trust and be trusted helps us remain committed to others. Trusting people is one of the most difficult challenges in life since there is always the fear of getting hurt. Giving to others without trusting ourselves first means that we aren’t offering them our full attention, since we might be providing support for deeper reasons of which we may not be conscious. Knowing how we trust and what we need in a relationship, however, lets us completely commit ourselves to it since by being honest with ourselves we can open ourselves fully to others. As you more deeply understand your ways of trusting today, you will be able to provide unconditional love and support to your loved ones.

Source: Daily OM



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Outside Looking In



Give up the Fight
By Mastin Kipp

Listen to the quiet whispers
Within your heart
This is how you start
To set yourself free
The adventure begins
By listening within
And knowing that
What's unseen
Can come to be
You're meant for far greater things than this
When you give up the fight
And step into the Light
Your Fear transforms
Into Bliss


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That is how I feel . . . outside looking in.

Why am I miserable?  Why did I need a "time out"?

The roller coaster of happy, sad, happy, sad . . . hope, no hope . . . dwindling faith.  A life of love from far away . . .

Feeling anger and resentment for reasons I still don't thoroughly understand, but my negative attitude perceives it as all bad.  

The problem is, I really don't know.

Would I rather live a life with no love than to have a love that makes me feel this way?

Why does the road to peace, love and happiness have to be so rocky?

Am I willing to give up the fight?


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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Don't take anything for granted

When we are supported by others, expressing gratitude tells the universe that we appreciate our good fortune. When we take the time to reflect upon the countless miracles that happen to assist us, we may notice that the change in our level of awareness will change the quality of our life for the better.
So often in life we tend to take things for granted. We may feel that we haven’t been given everything that we deserve. Reflecting upon the abundance of life, however, helps us develop a keener sense of awareness of our gifts. Thank the universe for its support today, and you will be able to gratefully accept everything that life has to offer you.

Source: Daily Om



I'm happy to be in survival mode . . . and surviving . . .

life could be better, but it could also be much worse.

 I'm grateful! 

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

Strength and confidence



Fundamentally, what everyone needs is
mental strength and confidence, to manage
the mind, just as we manage
the outside world.
Amma (Sudhamani)


Not always as easy as it sounds! 



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