“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel..”  Proverbs 11:17

Have you ever felt like this?

You just had a conversation with someone, and it didn’t go very well.  They said something that either rubbed you the wrong way, or maybe felt like a jab at your heart… you walk away feeling a little uneasy, maybe burdened..you’re not sure what just happened, but inside you wish you would have been a little nicer…

I have… and I so hate that feeling!

When we looked at what Jesus told the Religious leaders about the greatest commandment…..” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your souls and with all your mind.  We didn’t look at the rest of what He said, which was this…

“And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself  “

Can you see a correlation here?

When we are kind our very own souls are nourshied…and when we love other people as we love ourselves, we are walking hand in hand with God’s own heart, and that is a beautiful feeling :)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for your kindness and hope in every situation!  Dear Lord, when we are feeling uncomfortable, or our hearts are feeling threatened, will you remind us that You are near… that we can take a deep breath, and let Your love penetrate our thoughts helping us to respond in a way that nourishes our very own souls, and the joy alive in our hearts.. That would be awesome!

We love, and need your goodness so very much… In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

Love to you :)

Lisa

Live in Love

Happy St. Patricks Day!  Don’t forget to get your green on :)

Live in Love..

When Jesus was asked, “Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

This was His response…

“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment.”

Matt 22:37

I am always taken back by the simplicity of His answer.  With so much going on in the world, so many wrongs, so many opportunities for us to do better, be better… His response was easy… simple.  His words take our eyes, and thoughts off of ourselves and puts them on God..

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you so much  that you made it easy for us to know what Your heart’s desire is for each of us… That to love You with all of our heart, soul and mind is enough… How I pray for us to feel safe in your presence, as we learn to surrender our doubts and fears and truly come before you empty-handed… searching to know you better, while leaving our stress, fears, and desires at your feet trusting that in return we will be filled with Your peace…Thank you that we can trust in Your love and goodness.

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

Phil 4:7

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Are you struggling with something in your heart that is making it hard for you to believe God cares about you?

Please, if you answered, Yes, take a moment today, or tonight, and write it out to God.. give Him your every word, fear and doubt and ask Him to enter the situation. He doesn’t want you to do life alone.. He ferociously cares about you.

Read Psalm 23

   Be Blessed, Dear Friend…

Love,

Lisa

Live in Love :)

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!..”

2 Corinthians 5:17

I don’t know about you, and please forgive me if you don’t feel this way,  but when I look at my past, and who I was before I met Jesus, I am so very thankful for this truth.

Only God knows our hearts, thoughts and desires, and the things in our lives, and pasts, that have caused us pain, sadness, or regreat.  We can take refuge knowing that the old us is gone, and  the new has come!  Each day is a new possibility to breathe in God’s love hope and kindness, and a chance to love others the way God loves us.  We are a new creation.. How beautiful is that?!

Dear, Heavenly Father, Thank you for your unconditional love.  “That you didn’t come into the world to condemn us, but to save us..”

John 3:16-17

   Thank you for sending Jesus to bind us in your love, strength and goodness.. that we do not need to do this life alone, You are our Father, friend,  and lover of our soul…That is amazing, and so very precious!

Thank you, Jesus, for making all things new..

In Jesus Holy Name, Amen

Love,

Lisa

Live in Love :)

“If we walk in the light, like He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another..”

1 John 1:7

Can you picture that?  There are days that I need to actually picture myself walking hand in hand with Jesus… especially when my heart is being pulled in a direction that is turning my thoughts off of what is  “..Good, right and true..”

Phil 4:6

Sometimes the days are long, hard and filled with commotion.. we are easily drawn into “drama” of one kind or another… Those days wear at my very soul!

Dear Heavenly Father,  to walk in the light, like you are in the light, gives us cause to pause…

Help us to know that when our thoughts are turning toward feelings of  judgment, guilt, or the sting of being hurt, that that is darkness…and a slippery slope for our hearts. Dear, Lord, help us to turn our thoughts quickly to You! Your light of acceptance, and unconditional love.  Finding our value, hope, love and peace in You.  As we surrender those “dark”  thoughts to You, the fellowship and friendship that we share with You will keep us walking hand -hand in your glorious light, and You will gladly take away those distractions. Please fill us with Your comfort and peace.  Thank You for reminding us that we are safe with You, in Your presence…Ahhhhh!

Thank you for your truths, and that You have…

“Plans to prosper and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future…”

Jer 29:11

We give You the bad, and You fill us with Your light, love and goodness!  I like that plan :)

Thank you for Your constant light of goodness…

We love You, Jesus, Amen.

Praying for us to keep walking in His light, one day at a time,

Love,

Lisa

Live in Love :)

When prayer, hope and waiting, turns to doubt and discouragement, may these words fill us with peace, and the desire to once again be refreshed by believing God is working in our lives and circumstances.

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight..”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Dear Heavenly Father, I do trust you with all of my heart… I am praying for the strength to not lean on my own understanding as I acknowledge You in all of the details I am struggling with… (If you can, list them out, and picture yourself in God’s presence, stretching out your hand,  and happily handing the list over to Him) Oh, Lord, thank you that I do not have to worry, plan or agonize over the results, that all I am required to do is trust and acknowledge You by bringing you right in the middle of my life,  and You will make my paths straight!  What a blessing of hope and joy that is!

Trusting in You, with all of our hearts,

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Thank you, Lord, for always drawing us into your presence,

Lisa

Live in Love :)

“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me..”

Psalm 50:23

I don’t think, until this very moment, I have ever thought that the words, “Thank You”  Could be construed as sacrifice, have you?  As I am sitting here thinking about it, talking with God, praying..anazlying, it dawns on me!  When I am feeling down, or upset , my normal reaction is to dwell about what is going on,  maybe talk about it, or replay what’s going on over and over in my head.  I’m pretty sure, the last thought on my mind is, “Thank you.”  For me to stop this natural process, would definitely be a sacrifice, because I would much rather stir, or complain.. even if it’s just inside thoughts..  Not proud of that, but it’s true :)   I think it makes me  feel like I’m accomplishing something… even if it’s just beating myself up, or trying to figure out what the heck just happened!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you!  When we find ourselves upset, or feeling down, may we feel your kludge turning our thoughts away from the “landmine”. Help us to stop, and say,” Thank you.”  May our thoughts turn away from this dangerous slope of guilt, anger, or sadness!  and turn toward You…Please give us the desire to take a moment, get alone with you,  and say, thank you!   Thank you for this situation… it hurts, or I am super mad, but I know You can, and You will open my eyes to see the good that can come from what is going on. Dear God, you so know how hard it is for us to stop our thoughts and do this, so we Thank You for letting us know, that when we do,  it Honors You, and that is great motivation, for sure!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When we stop our thoughts, and turn our eyes towards heaven,  that is a sacrifice..and that honors God, Wow!  As simple as that sounds, I can so struggle with my desire to stop my thinking, or sometimes dwelling!   eekkk!!!  Just and added FYI :)

And… thank you guys, for your support and encouragement of this blog… it can be so tough to put yourself out there, but it is such a blessing to share God’s love..

Love to you,

Lisa

Live In Love :)

“Live in Harmony with one another, be sympathetic, be compassionate and humble..”

Oh, how sweet are these words!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thanks for these beautiful words of goodness.  Oh, Lord, you know better than we do the deep desires of our hearts.. To love others, be sympathetic, or even compassionate can sometimes not even come to mind when we are rushed, hurting, or just preoccupied by our day.  Thank you for reminding us what harmony looks like.. it’s a beautiful word full of love and kindness… Oh, Lord, search our hearts, cleanse our thoughts and fill our hearts desire with wanting to know you more, draw us into your presence…. remind us to pray for others, to be sympathetic before we judge, and to pray for compassion and humility, for we are all fighting our own battles for sure!  And Thank you for reminding us to be nice :)

We love you.. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thankful for His goodness,

Love,

Lisa

Live in Love :)

http://youtu.be/mpHSGP6U1Ws

This is a beautful song and amazing truth!

Have such a good day…

When I call on Jesus
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles and soar
When I call on Jesus
Mountains are gonna fall
‘Cause He’ll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call…

Live in Love :)

“..Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God..”

Matthew 5:9

It’s so very easy to get discouraged, isn’t it? We can wake up in a good mood, say a prayer of thanks, walk out the door with a smile on our face, the birds are singing… it’s a beautiful day!

Then, Bam!

We are blindsided by an argument, or misunderstanding…

At that moment there isn’t a lot of time for thought, but I’d like to encourage us that we do have a choice…

We can choose to be peacemakers.  We can  lay down our rights,  say a prayer of God’s goodness, and willingly choose peace. We can take a step back, and remind ourselves to see the best in that person, or situation.

On the other hand, We can so easily just react, argue, manipulate, and hash our every thought until the point of exhaustion! …  eekkk… just saying that brings up feelings of frustration!   Ha Ha Ha

Have you been there?

Heavenly Father, You tell us that blessed are the peacemakers!  I love that :)  When I think of being blessed, I think of your gentleness and peace flowing in and around my life… Your truths calm my spirit and bring light to my heart!  How I pray for us today that Your peace will open our hearts, and surround our thoughts. Please draw us into your presence, Heavenly Father, help us to be aware of Your love surrounding our life, and if we find ourselves in a situation where we have to choose to either argue, fight or calmly choose peace, would you gently  touch us with your love, and help us to choose peace.

We love You, 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Praying God’s goodness over our lives,

Lisa

Live in Love :)