Falling in LOVE Again: First Love

"It has been said that when we take one step toward God, He takes more steps toward us than there are sands in the beaches of the world." Bill Bright, "First Love" 

These words speak life and love to my heart and soul today. Think of it... when you are going toward somebody very nervous yet, just as much hopeful of a long awaited reunion... How different is it to you if that person stays in the same position or maybe takes a few steps in your direction in a hesitant way. Or, on the other hand, this person sees you from a distance and runs toward you arms open wide with a heart full of love for you desiring this reunion more than you could ever imagine.

The second example is like our unchangeable God every time I come back in His direction He runs to me. (Luke 15:20)

I have always been encouraged by James 4:8, but Luke 15:20 just blew my mind today!

"All that thrills my soul is Jesus. He is more than life to me..." (This song may seem out of place or random in this post, but it is the song that came to my mind as I was thrilled by this realization of God's love and desire for me.)

"His joy overflows. He bestows the deepest blessing, the good things He has been storing away for you. His joy cannot be contained... the overwhelming joy of God over your return... your joy cannot even compare to the boundless delight He feels."

I chose these quotes and some of my thoughts  to begin this blog series reviewing some of the books I have been reading so far this year. I feel very strongly that God directed (Proverbs 16:9) me to each of the books I am going to highlight for you. All the books I have read this year have something in common, and I could not have chosen such a concentrated set of books on my own if I had tried.

In Bill Bright's book, "First Love", he says, "...pray that wherever I go and whatever I do, I will never leave my first love... My first love for God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- is everything to me."

I found this book in a stack of books my dad was getting rid of - cleaning out his library. I picked it up because I thought it was written by Dr. David Jeremiah. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have given it a second look. When I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It is a book I will have to re-read in order to apply it, but I just couldn't wait to see what the author had to say next about our mutual Love and Lord. This book encouraged me in a number of ways. This first and most important I have already shared with you. Secondly, it encouraged me to think of everything as I did in the beginning... the fresh and new and exciting beginning. To retain and maintain that joy... my salvation (Ps. 51:12), my marriage, my motherhood, my work, my friendships...

To find out other ways this book has been an encouragement I recommend you read it yourself! I think you will LOVE it!

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor hight, nor depth, nor any creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. " Romans 8:38, 39

To-Do Lists

I read through first and second Peter last week... I was just looking back through some of my notes today, and 2 Peter chapter 1 caught my attention again.

There are a lot of lists in the Bible. I think Paul in particular like lists... Sometimes I think we (or I. I don't know about you.) read through them and then go on with the day almost unaffected. Yuck! Thinking about being unaffected... it makes my skin crawl... it's like taking a bite of spoiled food or a drink of sour milk... can't wait to spit it out! I know I am often unaffected. I will not pretend that I am not, but I desire to more consistently apply the Word and be changed by it. The more I desire this the more I am convinced I can not do this alone. Which puts me right where God wants me... fully relying on Him. But I digress... back to 2 Peter 1...

Verse 8 stood out to me...

For if these things be in you and abound, they shall make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't want to be barren or unfruitful, and I crave more and more the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, "if these things be in you" - what things? Which lead me back to verses 5 through 7 and the list.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. 

With a list like this it helps me to define the words a bit, and my study Bible notes came in very handy for this.

"Virtue is moral excellence."
"Knowledge is spiritual truth."
"Temperance is self-control."
"Patience is endurance."
"Godliness is Godlikeness."
"Brotherly kindness is brotherly love."
"Charity is volitional (from the dictionary - voluntary, the power of using one's will, denoting a decision or choice) love"

That is quite a list! Then verse 9 and 10.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he is purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

What a contrast there! If I don't do these things I am BLIND and have FORGOTTEN! I love the word diligence. It implies to me work, responsibility, effort, attention, consistency... If I am diligent to do these things I will NEVER FALL.