As we enter this season
of reflection and renewal, let’s rediscover God calling to His children,
revealing His goodness, and transforming each one with Perfect Love. "This
is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as
a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10) ~ Donna Oswalt
The place where God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. Fredrick Buechner
We search the world for meaning, for purpose, for reasons. When the world does not offer sufficient answers, we blame God; surely He must have forgotten us. If we pray to God for meaning or purpose or reasons, and He does not respond as we expect, we doubt that God is even listening. We crave more and more of the world's tokens, collecting trophies of greed and pride and beauty but remaining empty. And still, God calls to us and seeks us, wherever we are. God has a designed purpose for each of us, a place to serve. God abides with us, in all times, whether we acknowledge Him or not. Perhaps it is we who have forgotten; it we who are not listening.
I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name... And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience... Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 1 John 2:12-16 The Message
In a deepening relationship with God, our wants change. When responding to the Father's love, we begin to develop more compassion, quiet humility, and sincere love. Letting God's purposes fill our heart and mind and soul, we can know His presence. We find deep gladness.
consider this!
- When your deep gladness in God merges with the world's deep hunger, what happens?
- How does a growing personal relationship with God change my wants?
- What are my cravings?
Living Word, remain in my heart, guide my thoughts, abide with me always. Forgive me when I ignore You. How often do I stand at the corner of Want and More, uncertain and unsure? Yet You forgive my selfish ways, call me to a place of deep gladness. Take away my cravings for the world and replace them with cravings for You. Amen. -dho
All rights reserved; copyright 2017 by
Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and
author; Breathing Room For My Soul (blog)~ Follow
on Twitter @soulchat
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