Love So Real

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16

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

 I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. John Locke 

The well-known idiom actions speak louder than words is true. If our hearts embrace real love then we will respond with real love to others. Loving is not always easy; it involves time and sacrifice. Some of us believe ourselves to be generous, but do we truly give from a sacrificial heart?

This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave His life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters... My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring. 
 1 John 3:16,18 NCV 

Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for us, His life on the cross! Scripture says we should give our lives for others. How can that work? Our giving does not have the power to pardon sin, but with Christ, we are empowered to forgive, to listen, to love, to feel another's pain, to touch another's grief, to celebrate another's joy. With Christ, we speak His name with good deeds and the generosity of a sincere heart. 

READ 1 John 3:14-18 

consider this!

- Have I ever received real love?

- When was the last time I put down my life: laid down my agenda, gave some of my precious time, offered real love to someone else?

- What do my actions reveal about me?

Lord, it is so hard to believe in Love so real! It is hard to accept Love so pure! You are Perfect Love given to me. Words come and go, heard and not heard, written and forgotten, but when I love others in their ordinary days, touching their everyday wound and weariness, dilemmas and decisions, fears and failures - I am loving You and offering Your love to others. Use me, Lord. 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

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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Righteous vs. Evil

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16

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

 Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in His ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions and gifts, our human needs and our eternal aspirations. Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction 

Love is the message God has given us from the beginning. To love God and to love each other sums up all the commandments. What is the first Bible verse children learn? God is love! Because God is love and because God loves us, we can love, too.

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 
1 John 3:11 NIV

In 1 John 3:12 a reference is made to Cain and Able (Genesis 4:1-16). Cain does not give his best to God; however, Able does, and this makes Cain look bad. In fact, Cain is so angry that he kills his brother Able. Sometimes when we choose to live righteous lives, the world will respond in a negative way. The world always tries to undermine God's goodness. As we read a few days ago, Live deeply in Christ, let His Holiness permeate all areas of our living, even though the world may hate us. While He does not promise an easy path, God does promise to always be with us.

READ 1 John 3:11-13 

consider this!

- Who should love?

- Whom should we love?

- Will you love?

Father of Light - I live in a world that loves itself. Without You, I do not even know what real love is. You are the Love I must choose for myself, the Love that I must offer to others. Give me strength for the long journey through the darkness. 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

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

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Righteousness of Christ

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16

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

When the heart begins to burn with truth, when it takes root in you and you simply must respond to it, that is when you know with certainty that God is real, that the hope of you calling is genuine, that the power of His presence is available, and that the riches of His ministry through you is manifest to others as well. Ray Stedman, from The Power of His Presence,  www.RayStedman.org

In this season of reflection, we are more alert to Christ's sacrifice and our own weaknesses. While Christians are not perfect, the intentions of our actions should be Christ-focused. Evil is real, and Satan is always waiting for another opportunity to tempt us. Sadly, we are often easily deceived by his interference. As children of God, we must strive for righteous living, finding our Example, our Success, our Intercessor in Jesus.

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10 ESV

The world will tell you there is no evil, that Satan does not exist. The Living Word of God tells you the truth - evil and Satan are alive and well and looking for us! As humans we are fallen and imperfect, incapable of not sinning. In Christ we are made new; our new hearts long to live a more holy life. Christians are forgiven and called to righteous living. We are called to live as Christ and love one another.

READ 1 John 3:4-10 

consider this!

- Read 1 John 3:5; compare our sins with Jesus

- Read 1 John 3:8; what do we learn about the devil?

- What do your actions reflect? Righteous living or destructive living?

God - Your goodness overwhelms me as the Spirit draws near to whisper of Perfect Love and holiness and peace. The world distracts me and shouts and lures, but You are greater than anything in this world. I hold to Your Promises. 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

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

Wonder-full Love

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16

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

There is nothing on earth like the love of God when once it breaks on the soul; it may break at a midnight or a dawn, but always as a great surprise, and we begin to experience the uniting of our whole being with the nature of God. Oswald Chambers

The love the Father has for His children exceeds the boundaries of our imaginations. It is both marvelous and wonder-full, generous beyond explanation. We wrestle with trying to define and describe God's love. Believing that God's character is love can be confusing when the world we live in challenges us with loss and loneliness. While all about us constantly changes, we can take comfort in trusting God who never changes. God is love - even when.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!... we're called the children of God. 1 John 3:1  

READ 1 John 3:1-3

consider this!

- Who are the children of God?

- Read Galatians 4:4-7; how is it possible to become a child of God?

- Are you in God's family?

Father, Your love for us is higher and deeper and wider than we can understand. Jesus, You are the hope that makes us holy. Holy Spirit, breathe into us new life. 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

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

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1st Sunday in Lent - Oneness in Christ - Live Deeply

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16

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

Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy, however harmless it may appear to me.  A.W. Tozer 

The secular response to Christ, if there is any acknowledgement, is that Christ was a great teacher and a good person. The world says there are no absolute truths, that truth is what you believe to be true. The Holy Scriptures, the foundation of the Christian faith, tell a different story. Christ is the Living Son of God, the will and sinless sacrifice offered for all the iniquities of humanity. He has always been and will always be. Jesus, both humankind and deity, has come to fulfill God's plan of salvation for all people. There ARE truths that must be a part of our faith statement as Christians. Without these indisputable truths, we claim a belief in nothing more than good intentions.

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to live in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life He promised us... you have received the Holy spirit and He lives within you... For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what He teaches is true. 1 John 2:24,27 NLT

Through careful and continued study of the Scriptures, these truths become more clear. God reveals himself to us today through the living word. The Scriptures are both ancient and living words, telling us stories of old and using these lessons for today. Our struggles with truth in the world are no different that centuries ago, with unbelief then and unbelief today. Time after time, we must stand boldly with faith in our Creator, Redeemer, and King.

READ 1 John 2:18-29 The Message

consider this!  

- How do believers come to more fully understand the character of God?

- Why does the world dilute and deny the absolute truths in Scripture?

- What do you believe about Christ?

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me... Father, Son, and Spirit - three in One, I cannot understand Perfect Love, but I can accept this Gift by faith. Give me the courage to grow in understanding of the Living Word that I might be Your light in the darkness, that I might learn to live deeply in Christ. 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

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

God Calls Us

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16

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.

READ 1 John 2:12-17 

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

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook