Eternal Significance

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

Though the devil would have us believe he is invincible, his cause has already been doomed by the cross. Ray Stedman from Spiritual Warfare (pg.50)

There are those who do not believe in evil or the devil or Satan even though the Bible speaks of it many times. There are those who do not believe that Jesus came to earth, fully human and fully God. There are those who do not believe Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures. Does what we believe about Jesus really matter?

And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1John 5:5 NLT

Christ died on the cross for every one's sins. All our acts of disobedience nailed Him there. Christ redeems all who believe. Through His resurrection from the dead three days after the crucifixion, grace embraces us. Satan and his spirit-followers would have us discount this, even tries to discredit the Holy Scriptures. Only Perfect Love can offer Grace to us. The specifics about Jesus do matter. They carry an eternal significance!

READ 1 John 5:4-5

consider this!

- Using any translation of the Bible, find at least 3 references to evil

- Find at least 3 passages in the Scriptures that reference "trust"

- Is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Living Word?

Lord, I see evil in the world around me and experience the drama of evil in my life. Satan only offers disorder and chaos and destruction. Jesus, You give my soul peace that I cannot explain. You offer what the world cannot, you offer eternal life. I am trusting You to lead me through the darkness into the light along this earthly journey. 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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Disobedience

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 obedience that keeps His commandments becomes the outward expression of our love for God. Andrew Murray from A Life of Obedience

Disobedience starts all our problems. In the Garden, God creates everything that anyone could ever need. Only one thing God asks from Adam and Eve, "Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Disobedience ends the completeness of Eden.

Loving God means keeping His commandments... 
1 John 5:3 NLT

"Christ overcame disobedience and gives us the power to replace ours with His obedience." (Murray, A Life of Obedience, pg. 25)  Disciples are to strive for a life of true obedience to God but humankind struggles with rebellion. Christ's obedience to the Father's will, His obedience to the Cross, becomes our path to righteousness. This is the way God loves.

READ 1 John 5:1-3 

consider this!  

- Who is Jesus Christ?

- What is the root of sin?

- Can I show love to others without obedience to Christ?

Father, I know that without You sin rules. Obedience is a choice that I can make because Christ was obedient to the cross. I desire to be obedient to Your will for me. 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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3rd Sunday in Lent - Oneness with Christ - Christ Living Through 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 fruit of righteousness is that fruit that is exercised in us by the Holy Spirit. RC Sproul from The Holiness of God

Without God, we do not have faith; we cannot love. God IS love, and because He loves us, we can know love. Christians are to demonstrate the fruit of God's love to others. When we call ourselves His children but do not love, we deceive each other.

We love because He first loved us... Whoever loves God must also love his brother.                  1John 4:19, 21 

Commentaries say John uses the word love "35 times" in this letter. The love John uses is the Greek word agape to describe a self-less, undeserving, pure love. This agape begins with God and flows into us. In acknowledging God as the Source of love, our help and security, our comfort and rest can be traced to God. No longer are we self-reliant; rather, we become Spirit-dependent as the Holy Spirit dwells in us, growing the fruit of righteousness. In Galatians 5:22-23, we find the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God is love and through us He shows His love to others.

READ 1 John 4:19-21

consider this!

- Can the law make us love?

- What fruit of the Spirit is missing from my life?

Love Most High - Such generous love and mercy flows from You. You are the Source of goodness and grace, love and power, life and death. In You I can find all things good. You are holy and righteous. Teach me how to grow my life to be more like Yours. 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

Fearless 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

 What Jesus do you serve? Todd Agnew, Christian worship leader

In Agnew's song, he asks us, "What Jesus do you serve?" Do we serve the Jesus of the stained glass church or the One that walks among the broken? It's a good question. More often than not, most of us find our comfort zone of service safe within the walls of the church, with people more like us than different. When Jesus walked the earth, however, He almost always was found outside the Temple, among the sick, with the needing ones.


...in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love... 1 John 4:17-18  

Christians are called to step out into the world, be the Christ-light for others. We are called to stand among the broken, be as Christ to others. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, be a witness for Christ to the lost. Yes, there are hurting, wounded, and lost people within the walls of the church; however, the Spirit also leads us outside to spread His light and love to many more. Many times it is fear that holds us back, gives us pause. These verses in 1 John 4 tell us perfect love casts out fear. Have I offered this same assurance to someone who's afraid and broken?

READ 1 John 4:17-18

consider this!

- What does "love is made complete" mean?

- When is this "day of judgement"?

- Does my "fear" clash with "perfect love"?

Jesus, Lover of my soul. When the time comes that I stand before you face-to-face, I will find amazing grace. In these days before that time, my heart searches for new ways to reach out in the name of Jesus, to reach out in the way You love. 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

Trust His 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

Trust God for the unexpected, and let Him surprise you by doing the unexplainable. Unknown

No matter the length of study time or depth of study, our human minds cannot grasp the greatness of God. Scripture tells us He is greater than anything in this world. The prophet Jeremiah records God's message to him: Call to Me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wonderful things that you could never figure out on your own. (Jeremiah 33:3 The Message). Even though we seek Him, in all ways, we can never fully understand God.

...Jesus is God's Son...we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.      1John 4:15-16 The Message 

Reading these verses reminds us of just how loved we are. John's words to believers gives us a way to evaluate our behavior, to help us identify how closely we walk with God. We are to believe, to confess, to live steadily and deeply in Him, and to tell others that Jesus has redeemed us, giving us eternal life. We should embrace Jesus - heart and soul.

READ 1 John 4:13-16

consider this!

- What is the proof God gives believers of His Presence?

- When life is uncertain, what is the believer's certainty?

- Do I fully embrace God's generous Love?

Jesus - You lived God's love when You allowed the world to hammer the nails! You live God's love now as our Eternal Intercessor. You will live God's love when You return for His children. I want to wholeheartedly embrace this Divine Love and share You with others. 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

No Room Left

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

Your emptiness accepted creates a space for God in your life. When you embrace that emptiness, God can begin to fill you. God has a plan for you. Marcrina Wiederkehr from A Tree Full of Angels

We live so fully, always busy, that we often find ourselves too full with no room left for God. Busyness can keep us from developing an intimate relationship with the Lord. To lay down the world, to lay down television, newspapers, work, electronics, social activities, and sometimes even church activities, is necessary to create time and space for God. Sadly, this is the way we frequently go about it, as an afterthought. 

...if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and His love becomes complete in us - perfect love! 1 John 4:12 The Message

What a beautiful thought - Perfect Love is complete in us! The Holy Spirit needs a place to work, and when our lives are too full, there is little room for His Presence.

READ 1 John 4:11-12

consider this!

- How does God reveal His love to me?

- Can God offer Perfect Love to others through me?

- How much space does my life create for God?

Father, come and dwell in me. It is time to clean house, throw out unnecessary clutter that robs my soul of time with You. With open hands and open ears, I ask You to fill me with holiness, speak to me with wisdom. Make me complete in 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