What Is Love? How Should We Love? | Thankful Thursday

 

Thankful for love???

Love is a word that is thrown around all of the time. It is one of the most overused words in the English vocabulary. We love ice cream. We love sunny days. We love weekends. We love paydays. We may enjoy those things and really like them, but to emphasize how much we care for those things we say we love them. I did an experiment a few years ago. I intentionally listened to times I said I love something. I would immediately correct it. I might have said, "Oh I love this show!" I heard myself say that and I was like, wait a minute, I do not love this show. I like it and enjoy watching it, but I do not love this show. So then I said, "I mean, I really like this show." And whoever I was talking to would kind of laugh it off and probably thought I was crazy because we are so accustomed to hearing love be thrown around like confetti at a New Year's party.

I want to share some scriptures on what the Bible says love is and a few verses about how the Bible says we should love. Valentine's Day will be coming up in mid-February. In stores now you will find Valentine's Day themed cards, mugs, kitchen towels, fuzzy throw blankets and more. Our culture will try to insist that it is a day of love and encourage us to spend as much money we can on candy, flowers, cards, and decorations. It is insinuated that if one does not participate in purchasing this plethora of loveliness, then our love may not be sincere. I do not care to discuss the practices of our modern age. I want to go to the Ancient of Days and hear what He has to say about it; after all, God is love. He loves us and it is something He does well. It is a part of His character. God is love. You cannot have love apart from Him. If you are curious about what the Bible has to say about the subject of love, you will enjoy today's blog post.

PROVERBS 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

In Proverbs, King Solomon shares his wisdom about love and hate. He says that hatred stirs up strife. When a person hates another person, it is difficult for the two to have a civil conversation. Instead of listening with an open mind, they are tainted by their feelings for one another and a simple statement can lead to an argument. One might say, "I didn't mean it like that." The other person may reply, "It sounded that way to me. You are always saying things like that." And on and on it goes. Hatred is the opposite of love. You take two people in love with one another and mention a flaw the one has and listen for the comment they make. "Oh, I don't know. I think he is cute when he's angry." And say something to him about her, "That's just something I love about her." They overlook one another's flaws because they love one another. This happens a lot after someone dies. Many times you would think the deceased was the perfect person to walk the face of the earth. No one but Jesus is perfect but when we love someone, we tend to focus on their good features and we overlook their faults. The Bible says love covers all sin. There is no record keeping. It is just loving each other and realizing we are all human.

PROVERBS 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox (fatted calf) and hatred therewith.

What a picture this proverb is! It is better to have a nice salad with love in the home than eat a juicy steak dinner where you are hated. The food will taste better when you are enjoying a meal with someone you love than if you are elbow to elbow with someone who hates you. Think of that concept. Have you ever been somewhere and you could cut the tension with a knife? The meal is just not as enjoyable and I have been known to lose my appetite in the middle of conflict. If I am on a date with my wonderful husband and we are eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches it would be far tastier than a meal mixed with strife.

MATTHEW 24:12 And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold.

In the New Testament, the disciples privately approached Jesus to ask Him to give them some things to look for signifying the end of the world. Jesus wanted them to know what to watch for, and He wanted us to know, so that we were not deceived. He wanted it to be crystal clear what would happen as time marched on and our world's end was nearing. We are in the end times. I am not saying the world will end tomorrow, but we are in the final chapters of this world's existence and just like you can see the book pages getting fewer and fewer as you approach the end of the novel, Jesus gave us some things to watch for, too. 

How interesting that we find a correlation to lawlessness and a decrease in love. Jesus said that because iniquity would increase and things would get worse instead of better, many people would love less. This is so evident today. People who once would smile and wave, even though you were strangers, today are fearful and do not even make eye contact. No one wants to be in close proximity to others because of sickness abounding in our world. I held the door for an elderly couple and they stood there looking at me, not sure if they should slide past me holding the door for them. I grew up doing this and it's second nature to me, to hold the door for someone who is older or disabled. People commit crimes and instead of knowing whether the person arrested is actually guilty or not, we have already sentenced them to life with no parole. Look at this country right now, the UNITED States of America has been the disjointed and disconnected States of America. There is division about nearly every topic on anyone's minds and it is ripping this country apart at the seams. The love of many is definitely growing cold.

JOHN 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if he have love one to another.

Jesus taught us that the world is watching us. They are looking at how we treat one another. The moment we start acting like the world, passing judgment instead of offering grace, we lose our witness. Jesus said the world will know we belong to Him if we love one another. The world may lose their minds and treat each other with malice and unforgiveness but it should not be done in the Church. The Body of Christ, God's chosen people, should not be named among those who are disrespectful, unthankful, and unholy. It should not be! It is our biggest witness that we love Jesus and that He loves them! If I am verbally wounding others who have not yet come to Christ because I think my righteousness will get me somewhere, I will never win anyone to Christ. My righteousness is as filthy rags according to Isaiah 64:6. If I hear of someone struggling with addiction and I come alongside them, offer them some hope, help, and grace, then they are more willing to listen to me speak about Jesus. They do not care what I have to say until they realize they are not in danger of venomous words. We have to love others!

JOHN 15:10-14 If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Jesus once again tells us what to do to love like He did. He was willing to lay down His life for us and if we are willing to do the same, then we are going to honor Him. You may not actually have to take a bullet for someone. You may not have to die for a neighbor or someone, but then again, you may. Look at the firefighters who run in to burning buildings when everyone else is running out. Look at the courageous men and women in the military willing to leave home, family, friends, and all they own to die for their country if it is required. Think of the incredibly brave men and women and children all over the globe who will die with Jesus on their lips instead of denying Him and living a longer life. This is the greatest form of love. To love others more than your own life.

I am so thankful that Jesus loves me so much that He died for me. He died for all of us. He chose obedience which meant death on a cruel cross, for sins He never committed. His motivation, the driving force behind His decision, was love for the Father and love for us. He was the only One able to redeem us. So He did. I am so thankful for the times He explained what love is and how to love and how to live in a loving way to honor Him. I barely scratched the surface of what all the Bible says about love. I will end with one last scripture on love. It sums it all up and it is for every single human on the face of the planet. No discrimination. No rules. No regulations. No money required nor accepted. It is a free gift of grace and mercy and love.

JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What a beautiful promise He offers all of us. Do not let the day end like it began. Trust the Savior. Put your hand in His nail scarred hands and let Him lead you Home. He loves you so much. Accept Him as Lord and Savior. Pray earnestly from your heart and allow Him to set you free. You will never regret it and you will truly never be the same again.

I hope that something I shared about love today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you,

Bridgett Owens

Jesus Repairs Racial Division | Wednesday Bible Study

Black lives matter. That is a fact. That is not an opinion. That is not just a movement. That is a factual statement that demands a call to action. Asian lives matter. Hispanic lives matter. Yes, white lives matter. All lives matter. Why? Because God loves us. He created us and He loves us so much He has sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and give us eternal life if we will simply believe.

JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Please understand something, racial division is prevalent in this world, but it is also prevalent in our churches. It is not white people against black people. It is not black people against white people. It is not about one nationality against another. Those are distractions from the enemy. It stems from not operating from a place of love.

I have friends who are not white; some are Hispanic, some are biracial, some are Italian, some are African American, some are Native American, some are Indian. I love my friends. We have found things in common that draw us to each other. One thing we should have in common with others in the Christian community is love for Jesus and love for one another. It is His commandment.

JOHN 13:34 A new commandment give I unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Let's look in the Bible at John chapter four and see how Jesus handled the situation with the Samaritan. For a little background, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. They did not like them, they did not speak to them, and a Jewish man would definitely not speak to a Samaritan woman. So, how did the Son of God handle this situation? There was racial tension. It was not neat and pretty and tied with a bow. Let's read what happens.

Jesus left Judaea to go to Galilee. In order to get where Jesus was going he had to travel through Samaria. He went to a city called Sychar, to Jacob's well. This is the well Jacob gave to his son Joseph. The disciples went to town to get something to eat and Jesus decided to stay at the well. Along came a Samaritan woman and Jesus speaks to her, "Give Me a drink." And this is her answer:

JOHN 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

She drew the racial line in the proverbial sand. She asks why He is speaking to her. She is a Samaritan. She reminds Him that Jews do not interact with the people of Samaria. Jesus knows she is a Samaritan. He knows she is a woman. That does not change the fact that she needs a Savior. He came to die for this woman just like any of the Jewish women. Jesus knows her worth. She does not deserve salvation, none of us do. God loves His creation so much He does not want any of us to die without Jesus as our Savior. So here is the Son of God loving this Samaritan woman out loud.

Their exchange does not seem loving. There is a request for a drink of water and immediately racial tension rears its ugly head to divide these two people. Let's look at Jesus's response to the woman.

JOHN 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water."

Instead of discussing how different they are, or how society says they should behave toward one another, the very picture of love is staring at her and essentially says to her, "I am so much more than a Jewish man. I am so much more than a thirsty person asking for a drink. If you knew the gift of God, and who I AM, then you would want Me to give you My living water."

Many people do not know who Jesus is. They grew up hearing stories and people's opinions of who He is, but they have yet to experience Him for themselves. This lady is having an encounter with the Man who will change her life and her future.

Like most of us, she looks at her situation. She is skeptical. "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with and the well is deep. Where do You have this living water?" She goes on to ask if He is greater than her father Jacob who gave the well and drank from it himself along with his children and cattle.

Jesus does not ever respond to the natural. He is supernatural and His answers are always about eternity and the condition of our souls. He tells her, "Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again. The one who drinks the water I give will never thirst and in them will be a well of water springing into everlasting life."

This woman at the well is thirsty. She is intrigued that He can give her water that she will never thirst again. She asks Jesus to give her the water so she will never be thirsty and she will never need to go to the well again. She thinks in the natural and Jesus speaks to the supernatural. He says to her, "Go get your husband and come here."

What? She literally asked Jesus for the water that would forever quench her thirst. Why did he mention a husband? What has that got to do with anything? It has everything to do with it. Jesus loves her enough to point out her mess and her mistakes so He can cleanse her. She says, "I don't have a husband." 

Jesus tells her, "You're right. You had five husbands and the man you are with now is not your husband either." He was acting like her husband but they were not married. They were sinning. That was the essence of what He said. That was all it took to get her attention. She perceived Him as a prophet. She said her forefathers worshiped in that mountain and questioned Jesus, "You say Jerusalem is the place men ought to worship."

Again, division in where to worship and who to worship. Jesus says, Woman, believe Me, the time is coming when the Father will not be worshiped in the mountain nor in Jerusalem. The true worshipers must worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth."

The woman tells Jesus the Messiah is coming and He is Christ. "When He comes, He will tell us all things." Jesus plainly tells her, "I that speak to you am He." He literally introduced Himself as Jesus the Messiah. She runs to the city to tell the others. The disciples are now back. They see the exchange Jesus was having with the woman and no one questioned Him, but they marveled. They could not believe it. Even the disciples knew the racial rules and not to cross them. Jesus came to tear down racial divides.

The Samaritans came to see Jesus and they urged Him to stay with them, so He did. Jesus stayed with them two days. Many more believed Jesus because of the things He said. They came to meet Jesus because of the woman's testimony but they believed in Him once they heard Jesus speak. We must continue to share our testimony with everyone because we never know who will hear and be converted as they experience Jesus for themselves. 

JOHN 4:41-42 (41)And many more believed because of His own Word; (42)And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Second Corinthians 3:17 says "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The woman at the well found freedom when she met Jesus. The Samaritan people who came to see Jesus and hear Him for themselves found liberty from the captivity they were in. For two days Jesus was able to set the captives free. 

GALATIANS 3:26-29 (26)For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27)For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29)And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

You see when Jesus redeems us and frees us from the penalty of sin and reconciles us to Himself, we are no longer a white person, a black person, a male, a female in God's eyes. We are all one in Christ Jesus. We are all made in His image and we belong to our Heavenly Father.

This scripture does not imply we should forget who we are. We are still unique individuals. The things that are different about us should make our relationships richer not divide us. But we are no longer defined by our nationality or gender alone. Our identity is hidden in Christ Jesus. 

We are put on this earth to shine as beacons of light. We need to come together in unity and in love. Let's stop listening to the world's view that says we have to "stick to our kind." We have to stop the division. Cross the lines and find out what others think, how they feel, what they struggle with. We need to help one another Home.

The world is in division right now. The church is in division. We must come together and let Christ be the central focus of all we say and do.

PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11 (9)And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (discernment): (10)That ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ: (11)Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

In conclusion of today's study, let's love one another. Let's use knowledge and discernment and approve excellent things. May we be sincere and not offensive to one another. We can do that when we are full of fruits of righteousness by Jesus so that all we say and do will honor and praise God. I hope something I have shared today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens 

 

 

 

Appreciation | Thankful Thursday

Sometimes the ones we love the most do not know how we truly feel about them until we tell them. It seems simple enough. Saying things like please, thank you, and you're welcome are good manners. Telling someone you love them is kind and can be reassuring. But, lately it has occurred to me that I do not tell my husband how important he is to me and our family. This week I found out how powerful verbally expressing my appreciation for my husband is.

Paul is my best friend. He is the strength in our marriage. He has muscles and he can lift heavy things. He knows how to fix almost anything. He thinks through things much quicker than I and he has really good ideas. He gets up very early every single morning Monday through Friday and goes to work. He does not ever complain about having to work so hard and drive so far to and from work (1 hour and 15 minutes one way). He is steady, dependable, reliable, and that makes me comfortable. Being a Christian husband is far harder than being a husband in general. He has the responsibility of leading our family in a way that pleases God. I rely on Paul to lead our family. He appreciates my feedback and we discuss things. He is no dictator, but he truly has the final say. In our marriage it is God first, then Paul, then me, and then our children. That is not a popular chain of command but God created it and you know what? It actually works! I tried the other way and it goes left real quick! Not a fun way to live.

Since moving back to Indiana, we have had a lot of fun times, happy times, joyful times. We made new friends, found our HOME church, and witnessed the power of God move so many times. It is incredible the amount of spiritual growth we have all encountered in this season of our life. We have also had a lot of disappointments, grief over loved ones who passed on. We have had people let us down, turn their backs on us, and hurt us in ways they could never know. This can take a toll on us, especially my husband. He is often quiet about things he feels. He hates to see his wife or children hurting and especially when that pain came from another person. So he does his best to keep pointing us back to Jesus and I will be honest here, he has his work cut out for him on this one. Sometimes I just want to be like Peter when he cut off the soldier's ear in an effort to protect Jesus. Paul, like Jesus did in the garden, reminds me we do not war against flesh and blood. He is right.

We had hoped to have our own home by now. That has been the single one thing that we have battled the most. Trusting God's timing when our own calendar flips month after month and nothing happens that we can see, it is frustrating. Stress at work for Kadesia and for Paul and for myself can really add to that frustration. Sickness that won't leave Kadesia's body since June can literally take parents to the brink when we have done all the things and she still has fevers that are above 103 and a heart rate that scares physicians! This is real life and these things can take a toll. And who do I share these feelings with? I tell my husband. I need him. I need his prayers. I need him to hold me and reassure me that someday soon our lives will not feel so out of control and awful! But who holds Paul?

Of course we know God holds us all in the palm of His hands and that will never change. Remember the scripture in Romans 8:35-39 that reads, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, no powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

But in the natural, when we need a hug, or an outlet, a safe place to vent and yell and cry, where can Paul go? If he has to be the pillar in our family: strong, steadfast, and immovable, where can he go? He goes to God first and then he comes to me. He lets me knows what areas he feels weak in. He knows it's a safe place to tell me his insecurities. And it is my duty not only as his wife, but as a Christian, a servant of Jesus, to build my husband up. I am to encourage him and uplift him. I am to pray for him and empower him to continue to lead well.

Ladies, please, make that safe place available to your husbands. I have not always done this and there were times I did not do it well. But do not stop trying to be the help meet you were created to be for that man in your life. Instead of listening to other women complain about their husbands, we must honor ours. Instead of finding fault with the spiritual leaders of our homes, we need to show them respect and love and appreciation. The world will not do this for them. Other women can stroke their ego, but they will not do this for them. It is up to us, to be the women of God we are called to be. God handpicked us for these men to be the helper and friend and companion they need. Let us make a safe haven of rest for our husbands because they need it, too.

I have seen a woman spend a great deal of time on an elaborate meal for their family and then criticize everyone and everything the entire time. It was so bad at one point, my husband and I just looked at one another and exchanged disappointed glances. The atmosphere was uncomfortable to say the least. She continued to point out her husband's flaws and shortcomings and he was getting embarrassed and upset. We need to honor our husbands and lift them up every chance we get.

You may think, "Bridgett you don't know my husband. You don't know his bad habits and his attitude. How can I honor a man like that?" I understand it can be a challenge. I truly do. But, we are to love others more than ourselves. Pray for your husband to see where he is not lining up to God and ask God to work in his heart. But don't say amen and go on with your day. While you are having a conversation with God, ask Him to change your heart, too. Ask Him to show you how to be more loving, more kind, more respectful. Maybe the moment he walks through the door is not the best time to start unloading about your day. Ask how his day was. Talk to him and listen. Take the time to be present in the moment.

Friends we have to stop looking at everything through the lens of "How Does This Make Me Feel" and we need to prefer others above ourselves. Look to the needs of others. Read the book of Romans, chapter 12 and see how we should treat one another. We should never treat total strangers kinder than we do our own flesh and blood. We are the children of God and He told us to love one another and that is how the world will know we belong to Him.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8a (4)Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5)Doth not behave itself unseemly [rudely], seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6)Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (7)Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (8a) Charity [love] never faileth:

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8a {ESV} (4)Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant (5)or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; (6)it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (7)Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8a)Love never fails. 

The Bible is very clear what love is. We know God is love and these verses in 1 Corinthians tell us the character of God's love. It is the same way He wants us to operate in love when we engage with others including our spouses. So let's take a quiz. How patient and kind are we? Do we envy other women who we think have better husbands? Are we bragging on ourselves and become arrogant and prideful? Are we rude? Come on now ladies. You know some of this hurts! Do we insist on our own way? Why do we just assume our way is better? And even if his way is not better it can still be good. If it is not good, then can we please give grace and mercy for times our husbands fail? We all need room to make mistakes. It is how we become better. Are we irritable or resentful? A friend of mine would complain about how much work she had to do around the house but she did not want to confront the issue of no one helping. She had set the standard so high that her kids said, "If we did do something to help, it would not be right and she would just do it over anyway." We have to let others help us or we have no reason to resent that they are not helping. What do we rejoice in? Are we encouraging bad behaviors or are we rejoicing in the right choices they make? Or do we ever tell them how proud we are that they are making good choices for the family? We cannot tell them they are wrong and never praise them for being right. Would we want to be talked to like that? Love endures all things and never fails. God loves us like this and we want our husbands to love us like this. So, let's make an effort to love them back like this.

I have never met a happily married couple who said, "Our marriage is awesome and it takes 0% from us!" Paul and I have been married for 21 years and it's tough sometimes. It is hard! Life is hard and so is marriage. There is more responsibility, more accountability, more to navigate and work through, but I love Paul more now than I did 21 years ago. I love Paul more now when I see him on his face at the altar at church asking God how he can be more like Him! I love Paul more when I see him pray about something before he moves on it. It was not always like that. He is more in tune with God now and that translates to everything he does.

I thank God for my husband. I am so thankful that Paul and I made it when others said it would never last. I am thankful that God gave me a wonderful husband and I tell him a lot, but not as much as I should. What are you thankful for this THANKFUL THURSDAY?

God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear | Wednesday Bible Study

Hello friends! It has been a while since I last posted. I have had a lot of health issues and I continue to battle them today. I am trusting God and I know He is my healer, but for those of you who live with chronic pain you know that some days you just try to make it through the day and that's the best you can do. So, God put this topic on my heart today: Perfect love casts out fear! This is straight from the Word of God and I want to talk about that in light of situations going on in our world today.

Fear is ugly. Fear is a tactic from the enemy to keep us stagnant, to prevent us from doing anything for God, and to keep us bound. When we live in a place of fear we get anxious, we get depressed, we lose hope and we are not effective workers in God's Kingdom. So the enemy loves to use fear.

The news is full of scary stories: a young family went to a park and was later found dead; a young girl engaged to be married, found dead after being away on a trip with her fiance; the violence in Afghanistan; reports of increased cases of the Vid and the division of Camp Poke and Camp Nope. There are stressful situations all around us and the enemy is working so hard to get us frustrated and upset but God has a plan and today we are getting our hope back, our joy back, and our freedom back!

1 JOHN 4:12-19 (12)No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. (13)Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. (14)And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (15)Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (16)And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17)Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. (18)There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19)We love Him because He first loved us.

Take the time today to read 1 John chapter four. It is a wonderful chapter that will give you more insight into what we are talking about today. I want to go over today's passage with you and give you some hope.

God is love. It is not just what He does, it is who He is. He is love. There is no love apart from God. So when we recognize Jesus is the Son of God and we believe in Him, we are saved. As Christians, we are in fellowship with Jesus. He lives in our heart and He placed His Holy Spirit inside of us. We have power and authority that God gave us through Jesus to overcome all the trials of this life. God is PERFECT LOVE.

It is hard to understand perfect love because as humans we love our parents, our children, our friends, our spouses, etc. but we do not love perfectly. We make mistakes. We get offended. We do not love perfectly. God's love is perfect. There is no flaw in it. There are no mistakes. He loves us unconditionally as a sinner as well as a child of God. He loved us first. His great love covered the multitude of sins we have. So how can we experience perfect love?

We need to have quiet time alone with God. We need to hang a do not disturb sign on the door and spend some time with Him. We cannot have a meaningful relationship with someone if we only use them for what we need and want and never spend time in their presence, getting to know them. There are so many facets of God's character. We need to spend quality time with Him to know Him and learn about Him. Remember Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus offers us that sweet rest for our weary souls? He tells us to learn who He is. Get to know Him.

When we are in the presence of God fear cannot stay. It leaves! It cannot hold us down or hold us back. We are free in the presence of God. We must draw near to Him. Instead of turning on the news to get an update, slip away to a place you can hear from God and see what His view is on the things in the world. Instead of stressing over things you cannot control, tune in to the Word of God and read the Good News! We know there will be trouble in the world because Jesus told us there would be. He said there would be diseases and wars and rumors of wars. He told us that the hearts of many would grow cold; that people would be lovers of themselves and compassion would diminish. Friends, we know that these things will happen but remember what Jesus said? 

JOHN 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Fear and peace cannot share the same space. If your heart is full of fear, doubt, dread, and stress then you are not living in peace. There is peace that comes from God that the world cannot give. This peace is sweet and it is beyond comprehension. In the middle of the storm, when the waves are crashing against you, and you feel like you are going under for the last time, when you turn your eyes on Jesus you will see His extended hand and He will rescue you. He did not leave us without hope. He is coming back. Things are bleak right now. Things are discouraging right now, but we do not hope for things in this world. We put our hope in Jesus Christ. He loves us. He loves with a perfect love and He is going to make all the crooked paths straight. He works to untie the knots and tangles in our situations. He heals and restores. He mends the brokenhearted. Let's get our hopes up again. Turn to the Master and let Him lead you out of the land of the fearful and into the land of the free. God has you in the palm of His hand and He will never, NEVER let you go!

I hope that something I have shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

 

Celebrating Freedom | Fuel For The Weekend

 

I am looking forward to a long weekend! It is going to be so nice to catch up on some rest, work on some projects, do some writing, and enjoy the holiday weekend. Here in America, we are celebrating Independence Day. I am so thankful for the men and women who have served, died serving, serve now, and will serve in the future. I do not take my freedom for granted. I know how quickly our rights can be taken away. But I am also thankful for freedom from sin. I am thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for us, to cleanse us and wash us in His precious blood so we can live with Him for eternity.

In Galatians 5:1, it reads, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." This is a great word for a time like this. We are to stand fast in the liberty that Jesus made us free. We don't have to work for it, try to earn it, be good enough or popular enough. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and choose to live for Him, we simply must stand firm on the Rock of our salvation, the foundation we build on, and that rock is Jesus. The next part of that verse is telling us what not to do. Don't pick up bad habits you laid down when Jesus set you free. Don't get messed up by running with the same crowd of people who you were pulled away from. If there are people who bring you down, tempt you to do things you shouldn't, and try to make you spend less time on your relationship with Christ, it is time to separate yourself from them and don't get tangled up with them again. That old behavior, those old lusts, that old way of thinking and doing things will get you snagged in a trap planted by the enemy so you become a servant of sin again. Don't do it. Hold on to the freedom you have. 

John 8:36 says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." That's pretty clear! If Jesus Christ has set you free from sin, you are free. You can celebrate your liberty in the act of love demonstrated on the cross at Calvary. Look at your life. Examine your thoughts and motives. Are they pure? Do you seek to honor Christ? Are you living in a way that would please the Father? Are you listening to Holy Spirit as He leads and guides and directs you?

Galatians 5:13 says "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." In other words, we have been called to liberty, freedom in Christ, but we should not take advantage of our liberty and start indulging our flesh. We are to come away from that old sinful nature and walk in liberty. We are to lovingly serve one another. There are so many needs all around us. Let's take the time this weekend to look for ways to serve and love others. Let's remember why we celebrate 4th of July in America and then remember why everyday should be a celebration of our freedom from sin. Jesus saved us and by His grace and mercy He keeps us. Let's love each other and help one another Home.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend whether you celebrate or not. If you are working, I pray you are safe and have a great work day. I hope you get some time to rest and relax. I am glad to have a long weekend to recuperate from all the sleepless nights and around the clock care I gladly gave to my baby girl. I am wishing you all a wonderful weekend as we kick it off together. May something I have shared today be strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Seeing Father God | Fuel For The Weekend

God told me to share my faith on Fridays and call it Fuel For The Weekend. It's my desire that the posts I put up on Fridays will give you something to think about, ponder, consider, and reflect on throughout the weekend.

I have had an incredible time with God this morning. He has given sweet peace to me. I am full of His love and His Word and His joy! What a beautiful way to end the work week and start on the weekend: in His presence!

In my quiet time the LORD directed me to today's verse. I read it, then read it again, and underlined it. It is so beautiful and this one verse is packed full of insight, encouragement, and hope. If you need any of those things, then I invite you to sit at the table with me as we break the Bread together!

ZEPHANIAH 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.

Isn't that a beautiful verse? God is in the midst of us. In the middle of our struggles, in the middle of our pain, in the middle of our loss, in the middle of our sickness, God is in the middle of it and He is mighty! He is powerful. He is not weak. He is not scared. He is not concerned. He is not frantically searching for answers on how to handle our problems. He is in control. He is mighty! He is the solution to every problem we face. He knows what to do! Sit in that knowledge for just a moment.

What are you facing right now? What hardship are you going through? You may be struggling with difficulties and maybe you thought this year would be better. It may have started off worse than last year started. There is hope! If you are a child of God, He is with you in the middle of the suffering and He is mighty! He is powerful! He is extraordinary!

He will save. Are you saved? Are your loved ones? Your friends? Your coworkers? I have a list of people I am asking God to save. It breaks my heart when I think they may leave this world without the Blessed Hope of God in Christ Jesus. So many people think if they are good people and do nice things that they don't have to have a relationship with Jesus and they are still going to heaven. That is a lie! The Bible tells us that if we try to go in any other way than through the door of Jesus Christ we are a thief and a robber. (John 10:1) God wants to save you and your loved ones, your friends, your coworkers...and the whole world. He sent Jesus for that purpose. (John 3:16)

I love this next part. He will rejoice over you with joy. When we line up our thoughts and our lives to reflect His ways He rejoices over us with joy. There is great happiness inside God that wells up and He rejoices over His children when they are walking upright before Him. I have an image in my mind of God, our loving Heavenly Father, sitting on the edge of His throne, looking down below, and seeing the ones who struggle and strive but never lose hope, never lose faith in Him and He begins to rejoice. He is happy! It pleases the Father when we obey and do His will. It makes Him glad to see us walking fully in our purpose. He loves us so much and He rejoices over us with joy! He takes great pleasure in us. Isn't that precious? I am holding this scripture so close to my heart this morning.

He will rest in His love. Some translations say He will quiet you with His love. Just as a parent soothes their child with hushed tones and gentle hands, our loving Heavenly Father rushes to us to quiet us with His love. He soothes us. The pain, the torment, the aggravation, the loss... it melts away when we are enveloped in His love. We are soothed and quieted. The storm that rages around us is not as scary in His arms!

Another translation says He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins]. And one other translation says In His love He will no longer rebuke you. Isn't that another beautiful illustration? He loves us so much He will not bring up the things we have done wrong in our past. The things He has already forgiven us for, He forgets. He does not drag up past deeds and sling them in our face. He does not condemn us. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) He loves us so much He would never condemn us for things He has already forgiven us for.

He will joy over us with singing. So many times God brings a song back to my remembrance and Holy Spirit will sing just a few lines from the song to my heart. It comforts me. It blesses me. It encourages me. I have sang over my children silly little songs when they were young and they would giggle. I can imagine God, our Heavenly Father, leaning into His children, getting so close to our faces, and with great happiness and pleasure singing over us. What a beautiful promise!

I don't know what you're going through. I know life is tough and things get tougher by the minute sometimes. I don't know what big obstacles stand in your way, what giants are hovering over you today, but I hope you will read this verse and find hope and strength. I hope you will breathe in this amazing promise God has given us and rest in it today. Let it lift you up. Let it speak to you. May you read this passage today and see our Heavenly Father in a whole new way.

As you get ready for the weekend, take heart! Be encouraged! I hope that something I have shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way! God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Happy Birthday Paul | Bible Study

Today my family and I celebrate and honor (my husband), (their father) Paul on his birthday! I have had the privilege to celebrate 20 times with this amazing man. Known by many as a gentle giant (6’ 4”), allow me to share who my husband really is.

Paul is a wonderful man. He goes out of his way to help others. If there is a need, he is quick to jump in. He is compassionate, favors the underdog, and always quick to encourage someone who feels down.

Paul is a loving father and devoted husband. He prays and then has faith to wait on God to work things out. He leads our family as God leads him. He teaches us the Scriptures and shows us how to rely on God.

Paul may seem like the perfect man from the way I describe him. He is human; and he has flaws but I choose to look beyond that to the many strengths he has. He helps at church with parking cars and does so with as much enthusiasm and excitement as he had when teaching youth. We have been in youth ministry and Kids’ Min. for two decades!!! He has served as greeter, even though he is shy. He has been an usher and collected the offering. He has been in security for more than one church. He has helped me teach little bitty kids up through teenagers and he always has a soft spot for kids and babies! 

Please help me celebrate this wonderful man of God. Wish him a happy birthday!!! I hope it begins and ends with blessings and joy!

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, to "Rejoice evermore." It says, "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, Happy is he." Proverbs 16:20 "When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7 "I have found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go." Song of Solomon 3:4

God blessed me so much with a wonderful man to do life with. He is my very best friend. He is my leader, the priest of our household, and the one my soul loves. Thank You Jesus for giving him to me! Happy birthday Paul! I love you big ole stinkin’ bunches!

~Bridgett.... (Your Blue)

Transitions | Fuel For The Weekend

God told me to share my faith on Fridays and call it Fuel For The Weekend. I wanted to do it. I thought about it. I tried coming up with ideas on my own, but I just came up short, so I put the idea toward the back of my mind, but the Holy Spirit continued to nudge me in this direction. I am going for it and it's my desire that the posts I put up on Fridays will give you something to think about, ponder, consider, and reflect on throughout the weekend.

It's finally the weekend! This week has been a long one and battle after battle in the spiritual realm. This is the last weekend I will have off with my current employer. Starting Monday I will be on the final countdown of my 30 day notice. I begin a new job the following Monday and so I am in a bit of a transition period. It seems our country is in a pivotal moment as well. Many things are shifting and taking place in ways that are new and different and maybe even a little scary but we do not need to be afraid.

God spoke to me in my prayer time and quiet time of listening to His voice. He spoke to me in my spirit and I wrote down what He said. He told me that He was going to give me a job that I did not apply for. I had already experienced Him do that a few years ago and so I knew He would do what He said. I was not sure what I was going to do or where I would work but one day I got a call with a job opportunity, had the chance to interview that same day, and was hired on the spot! They were even willing to wait the 30 days it took for me to give my notice at work. I am looking forward to a new leg of this journey I am on and definitely in need of a change from my current work situation.

The election is the buzz around social circles everywhere. People are blasting one another with their opinions over who is the best candidate and who should be President. I am sad to hear so many people cut each other apart with their political debates, spewing hatred from their lips, appalled that anyone might have a different opinion than theirs. This division and strife does not come from Donald Trump or Joe Biden. These attacks are from satan and he desires to separate family and friends, neighbors and colleagues, and especially the church! We are the body of Christ: brothers and sisters and we must not allow the wiles of the devil to destroy what God has worked so hard to build.

I am praying for unity in the United States of America. We are not the Divided States of America. I am praying that families, churches, politicians, teachers, neighbors, friends, colleagues will come together with the common goal of sharing the message of hope, love, healing, and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ alone. I am praying that we can link arm in arm regardless of who we vote for and push past the pain we are causing each other. It's time to be known as God's children and we can only do that through love!

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Luke 6:27-28, 31 (27) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (31) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Friends, we are in the very end of time. For those who do not have their hearts ready, that may be a hard thing to hear. You may be fearful and reluctant to believe that time is ticking away. The Bible tells us we are like wildflowers here today and gone the next. None of us know when we will be called before God's throne to give an account of our life. None of us know when the trumpet will sound and God will call His people Home. We must not be afraid of that day. To the Christian who has prepared their heart it is a time of jubilee and celebration. Our King is coming and we get to go Home soon!

I am ready to leave this world of trouble and pain and suffering behind. I have many unsaved loved ones: family and friends. I do not want to see them be lost. I am praying for them and for those in my city of Mobile. I desire for God to set this city on fire for His glory and to further the Kingdom. My 13 year old son had been closely watching the election results and was getting concerned about the outcome. He said, "Mom, I think God wants me to tell you this. I think that the devil is just using this election to distract people from doing good things for God. We are all so busy checking our phones and watching for the results of the election that we don't have time to do things for God." Wow! I was so blown away! Yes, out of the mouth of babes! He is so right. God confirmed that in my prayer time but it is easy to see it when we walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh.

Please continue to pray for this nation, pray for President Trump and his family and VP Pence and his family. Pray for Biden and Harris and their families. Pray for the elected officials who have won and will soon serve this great country. Pray we turn our hearts back to God. Pray that we stop tearing each other down and start building one another back up. Pray for healing and unity and justice FOR ALL. We are created in the image of God and He sent Jesus to make us all free. We are free from the slavery of sin and bondage that held us bound and was sentencing us to eternal separation from God. We ALL have a chance to make it if we will strive to enter in to the gate. Straight and narrow is the way and few be there that find it. Make sure you are on that path. God has so many great things in store for His children. Do not grow weary. Do not give up and do not give in. God is is control and He is victorious. Through Jesus we are all more than conquerors and He always causes us to triumph!

God bless you! God bless America, and America, please bless God!

~Bridgett Owens