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- voice of one angel
God is Agape
13 Nov 2010 2 Comments
1John 4:18,19 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.”
My soul is humbled when I read this.
In Greek there are 4 ways to say love (using Wikipedia to back me up):
Agape
Eros
Philía
Storge
Agape- means genuine love for one another. Often used when to say “I love you.”
Eros- love of passion & sensual longing. (note-not always sexual, but intimate) “soul connection” kind of love.
Philía- love of friendship. AKA-”brotherly love”
Storge- a love appreciation, whether towards an inanimate object, an idea or people we don’t know. Basic kind of love.
I think about all these variations of love. True love (no matter the level), comes from God. It’s easy to storge, simply live without attachment. True agape, unconditional love comes from the heart of the LORD.
My prayer, deep in my heart, is that each person (including self) knows & believes God’s love for each of us is eros. Intimate love that we can’t earn, but we have the gift to accept. We are designed to love & be loved. Let’s put the walls down & allow ourselves to love, whether it’s philía, agape or eros. I pray for broken hearts, may the Holy Spirit heal them with the grace of agape. May we come together through philía to help break down the walls of fear. May we feel agape towards ourselves, appreciating God’s creation. I pray this with all the eros in my heart, because I know without question, through Jesus this is happening. In the Lord’s name I pray, Amen.
- voice of one angel
Falling on my knees
04 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
Phil 4:6,7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I have those moments when I come before God stuck; too many things on my heart to share with Him. I find myself unable to put them into words.
I take a moment
to breathe in God
& let out stress.
I pray “please
let your Holy Spirit
lead me in my prayer.”
I’m quiet for a moment…
then the words of my heart
flow with the Holy Spirit
into the heart of God.
The peace of God calms me. I can feel the light of hope, joy & love radiating through me. There’s that moment of secure confidence when one knows deep in one’s soul: God heard & He’s in control.
Phil 4:12,13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Life is not easy. We all know this (not new information). There is always going to be something or someone in life that challenges us. One of the truths that makes faith in Jesus so incredible is simply stated above “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This is not a “feel good thought.”
It’s real.
It’s genuine.
It’s true.
We can’t “purchase” faith.
Through prayer,
faith grows,
as trust in the Lord blossoms.
The most valuable &
precious “thing/gift”
we have the opportunity to own.
My prayer for all who read this: for those that you love, for those who don’t know Christ, for those you walk past, for each living being; that we pray, laying it all out at the feet of Jesus. We allow ourselves be vulnerable & simply fall on our knees as we pray. I hope, deep in my heart, we stand up after praying with strength/confidence through Christ to work through anything that comes in one’s path. In His name I pray, amen
- voice of one angel
Value of life
20 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
1Sam 26:24 “As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life & deliver me from all trouble.”
It seems that we tend to value ourselves based upon what we do, what we have, who likes us, how many people like us, who needs us, etc.
The amazing truth is: We could have nothing, no friends, no family, no job, no belongings, bad health- yet in God’s eyes be seen as beautiful, valuable beings. Value comes from our hearts, through how we love with compassion.
1Tim 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life & the life to come.”
My prayer for each of us is that we allow ourselves the grace to see each other & oneself through the eyes of God. May we rewrite our definition of “value,” to deep appreciation of one’s heart. I pray that through this new perspective, each one of us experiences hope, forgiveness, grace & unconditional love. In Jesus name I pray, Amen
- voice of one angel
Redeeming forgiveness
13 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
When we forgive,
we are redeemed.
When we are redeemed,
we are forgiven.
Reading the passages of Psalm 107 is entirely about forgiveness & redemption.
Psalm 107:10,13-15 “Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains…Then they cried to the LORD in their distress, he brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness & broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love & his wonderful deeds for humankind.”
There’s so much hope in this passage. May we have compassion towards each other & forgive one another, just as the LORD forgives us. May we pray for each other, especially those whom have hurt us or we have hurt.
Forgiveness is not something to be taken for granted. It’s a gift; from God & the best unwrapped gift we can give each other. Sometimes, it’s the self, one needs to forgive. Through it all, the celebration of redemption brings us together with joy, hope & love.
I pray this is a season of loving forgiveness & total grace. May we pray, letting go of anger, hatred, bitterness & seek joy, love & hope. I know through Jesus this is possible. In His name I pray, Amen
- voice of one angel
Praise the LORD, oh my soul
05 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
Psalm 103:2-13 “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
I’m humbled
to have a LORD
who loves me
without limits.
My prayer for each of us is that we soak in the meaning of this passage. It becomes embedded in our souls, to where there is no question about the love the LORD feels for each of his beautiful & unique creations. May you look in the mirror & see His love for you. In Jesus name I pray, amen
- voice of one angel
Grace of faith
04 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
Mark 11:22-24 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”"
The grace of faith
is that
it is yours.
No one
can take it away
from you.
A person can have nothing tangible to call their own; yet with faith, have unexplainable joy, hope & love. At the same time, a person can have everything, yet without faith… life seems hallow.
My prayer for you this week, that no matter what happens, hold onto faith. May you know deep inside your soul, you can get through anything with Jesus. In the Lord’s name I pray, Amen
- voice of one angel
A closed open door
30 Sep 2010 2 Comments
There are many doors in our lives.
Doors we want to open
Doors we are afraid to open
Doors we shouldn’t open
Doors we are destined to open.
Luke 13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter & will not be able to.”
You know those days when you find yourself by a slightly open door, you peek in out of curiosity & you get a glimpse of the face of Jesus. Abundance of joy, hope & love is radiating through the door. Everything in you wants to open that door & spend time with the Lord.
There’s a hesitation, the things you need/want to do, appointments to keep, goals to accomplish, etc.
Meanwhile, your soul keeps pulling you back to the door. Then fear enters your mind: “Jesus is going to be mad at me,” “I’m not worthy to enter that door,” “I’m not wanted.”
Then a miracle happens, Jesus who knows our every thought, opens the door for us with welcome arms of love.
Rev 3:8 “I know your deeds. See I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word & have not denied my name.”
My prayer for all of us is that daily we open the door to the place where Jesus is in all aspects of our lives. The amazing thing about the LORD is that he isn’t limited behind one door. Just as he invited us, we can invite him to enter every door we open, to be with us when doors close, to give us courage & strength to open doors we fear & to close doors we need to let go of. I pray this, with all of my heart & soul. The cool thing is, we will all meet behind the doors that lead to heaven. Till then, let’s hold onto the hand of our LORD as we venture through the doors of our lives. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.
- voice of one angel
Prayer of an anxious heart
22 Sep 2010 2 Comments
I woke up this morning with anxious heart. I prayed for the LORD to calm me. That slightly overcast feel within my soul, where I couldn’t pinpoint the exact nature of my feelings. I sought the LORD…
Psalm 94:18,19 “When I said “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
I read this
my heart began to calm
and the joy in my heart
began to shine
Psalm 94:22 “But the LORD has become my fortress and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.”
I close with this prayer from Mother Theresa. This prayer never ceases to humble my heart and bring me back to the heart of God. I hope that you’ll pray this prayer in your life too.
“Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
LORD, grant that I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted, to understand than to be understood, to love than to be loved, for it is by forgetting self that one finds; it is by forgiving, that one is forgiven; it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.”
In Jesus name I pray, amen
- voice of one angel
Imperfect faith vs perfect fear
16 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
There is a theme I am noticing this week, it began with Isaiah 35:4 “say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.”"
Do not fear.
No buts or hesitations.
Do not fear.
Then later reading Matthew 19:16-30. Verse 21 stood out as it says “Jesus answered “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come. follow me.“”
The key word here is “then.”
Even after doing the right things,
completing the good list;
in the end
Jesus is asking us
to do one thing;
that is to follow him.
Seems so simple
but so hard
because of fear.
Then Jesus explains so clearly in Matthew 19:26b,30 “With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible… many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”
Lesson is clear:
Do not fear
God will come
Follow Jesus
Impossible
becomes possible.
Suddenly
fear morphs into faith,
we trust we are saved,
it becomes natural to follow
without hesitation.
My prayer for you today is that you let go, realizing you don’t have to have it all figured out or all together. We are not called to be perfect and check off the good list. When we are in the “back of the line” it is then that we realize “oh, God loves me, messy me, as I am.” I pray that you allow yourself to love God with the fabulous imperfect you that you are. I have faith that you’ll find yourself in the font of the line, holding hands with Jesus. I am thankful I am able to run into the arms of Jesus, in my pjs, unbrushed hair, morning breath (dare I admit, not so fresh body odor) and I know I’ll see him smiling, welcoming me with wide open arms, ready to give me the biggest hug ever. May we all do that today and every day of our lives. In Jesus name I pray, amen
- voice of one angel
