Mindful of Us

But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” – (Hebrews 2:6, NIV)

What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? – (Psalm 8:4, NIV)

 

It is an overwhelming thought to think that the Creator of the Universe would be mindful of us, individually – that He cares for every single person that ever has been, is and will be. Clearly, the very thought of such a personal God has been mind-blowing throughout the ages. Our mere mortal minds cannot hardly begin to grasp the magnitude of our Maker’s love and care for each of us. He deliberately designed each of us with a plan and a purpose, placing gifts and talents within us, that are unique to the DNA designed in our beings. There is no one else on the planet just like YOU. No one else can fulfill the purpose nor share the gifts that God has designed in and through you. Even with twins, who look remarkably similar, the Lord has created each with different talents, strengths and dreams planted within them to uniquely touch the world. May we each embrace the incredible, as God is mindful of each of us, and cares for us individually. Let us walk out our days as we have been designed, for we are the only one God created to answer the specific call placed on our lives.

 

The most holy God,

Is mindful of you;

Cares personally,

And His love is true.

The very same God,

Who created all;

Will love us to life,

Catch us when we fall.

Let’s trust in His word,

May our hearts align;

As we live our days,

As He has designed.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are mindful of us and care for us, individually. Thank You that despite You being God of matchless power and might, You still draw near and love even the least of us. Thank You that You designed us each with a plan and a purpose that is unique to us. Forgive us for forgetting that we are each intended to fill a role in Your kingdom, and all matter to You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would walk out our days according to Your plan, trusting that which You have placed within us. Show us how to love those around us well, so that they would be encouraged to seek You and to see the deliberate design that You placed within them as well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we walk out our days as You have designed, recognizing the care that You have for us all. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; …my hope is in You all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5

Show the Love

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. – (1 John 3:18, NLT)

My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do. – (1 John 3:18, ERV)

My little children, don’t just talk about love as an idea or theory. Make it your true way of life and live in the pattern of gracious love. – (1 John 3:18, VOICE)

 

God calls us to love with more than words. Though our words ought to be loving, our actions are what speak the loudest. If what we do is not motivated by love, it is evident to all, and our words will fall on deaf ears. However, when our actions are constantly seeking to serve others, and to put the needs of others before our own desires, people notice that there is something different driving us, and want to know what fuels our faithfulness. It is only through consistent action over time, that words begin to bear weight. In a relationship, the words “I love you” mean nothing, unless actions have shown the words to be true, over and over again. The same holds true in every other place in our lives where we interact with people. We are called to love. May we choose to love with our whole lives, rather than with words alone.

 

Oh Lord let our love,

Be made evident;

Not through words alone,

But acts of intent.

For things that we do,

Speak louder than words;

It is our actions,

The most clearly heard.

May our way of life,

All that we choose do;

Be done with great love,

So people see You.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love with our actions, rather than merely our words. Thank You, Jesus, that You do not just ask us to do this, but You modeled it for us. You touched the untouchable, loved the unlovable and over and over again, helped in tangible ways. Thank You that You also equip us to do the same. Forgive us for the times that our words and deeds are not aligned in love. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would walk out all of our days in the abundance of love that You shower upon us. Show us how to love those around us in ways that reach their hearts. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, as they see evidence of who You are and how You love through Your people placed in their lives who love them well. Be glorified O God, as we live out our days in the pattern of Your gracious love. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy turn to me. – Psalm 69:16

Reality Among Us

Because of this, the love of God is a reality among us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we could find true life through Him. – (1 John 4:9, VOICE)

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. – (1 John 4:9, NLT)

 

One enormous, sacrificial act of God on our behalf, and heaven’s doors were flung wide open with invitation for all who choose to accept, believe and receive Jesus, enter in. Christ came to restore what had been broken by sin. His one sacrifice paid the price for all that ever has been, is or will be, wrong in the sight of God. In Him, we are covered and called clean, accepted and received as redeemed before the Righteous One. May we embrace the grace that God has given through Jesus, and move forward in mercy, so that others too, may come to know the wonder of God’s amazing love.

 

What great love is this,

image by Nicole Egerer

That sent His own Son;

So we might have life,

When our time is done?

Only God’s own grace,

Shows love that’s so deep;

Through Christ made the way,

For our souls to keep.

May we each embrace,

The hope we now hold;

And make His love known,

As our story’s told.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your one and only Son to make the way for us to find true life in You. Jesus, thank You for Your forgiveness and grace. Thank You that there is nothing that we have done that is not covered by Your sacrifice. Forgive us for not recognizing the magnitude of Your mercy and grace, or for refusing to receive it for ourselves. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would embrace the glorious gift that You have given, and then go forth and share of Your love. Show us how to love others well, so that they may see Your goodness through how we love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we receive all that You have given and go forth in love and grace so others may recognize the redemption You offer. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. – James 5:11

Love As You Are

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” – (Matthew 22:37, NLT)

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” – (Matthew 22:37, MSG)

 

We are called to love God in the same way that He loves us. There are no limits nor conditions placed upon His love, and He does not require us to do or be enough to be the recipients of all that He has for us. Jesus tells us that we are commanded to love as we are loved by God. We need not have reservation nor hesitation, and with all that we are, we ought to give our passion and prayer to our Provider. Without Him, we have nothing and are nothing. In Christ, we are vessels created to receive and give love without reservation. May we seek the Lord to show us how to love Him as we are loved.

 

For Jesus has said,

Love God as you are;

Mind, heart, soul and strength,

To the Morning Star.

Let us not limit,

what we give to Him;

For He is worthy,

Of all that’s within.

As we choose to give,

To God and to man;

He fills us again,

To walk out His plan.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love You as we are loved by You. Thank You that this is not something that You expect us to do in our own strength, but rather You grow in us the desire and will to love You more and more as we gain insight to who You are and how You love. Forgive us for withholding any part of ourselves from You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would love You without limits, and in turn, go forth and love others too. Show us how to love like You love us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give You all of our prayers, passions and intellect, and trust them unto You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. – Psalm 23:6

More of You

The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding. – (Proverbs 4:7, ERV)

You will search for Me, and when you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me. – (Jeremiah 29:13, ERV)

 

The first verse is part of the passage that is included in my daily reading, and the second was in the home screen of my Bible application. I found it interesting that the two came in tandem, as God is our source of wisdom, and is found when we seek Him. Wisdom goes beyond knowing facts and figures; it is a deep imparted understanding of that which is beyond our comprehension without God’s intervention. As we seek the Lord, He reveals more and more of Himself to us, and we begin to grasp a glimpse of who God is and how great His love for us truly is. Our seeking is answered through time in His word, in worship, in prayer, and in silent stillness before Him. When our ears and hearts are open to hear the Lord, He imparts His wisdom and understanding upon us. What once was a mystery, becomes foundational knowledge that we can hold firm in our hearts. May we ever seek the Lord and His wisdom, so that we grow in our understanding of who He is and how great His love is for us all.

 

Wisdom is granted,

To those who choose seek;

The heart of the Lord,

He’s faithful to speak.

He’ll tell of His love,

Reveal mysteries;

Help our hearts to hold,

The grace hope carries.

So search for the Lord,

For wisdom and grace;

He’ll meet those who seek,

And show us His ways.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to be found by those who seek You. Thank You that You reveal Your wisdom to those who seek to understand. Forgive us for not pursuing new insight and understanding and simply settling for what we already know. Teach us to hunger and thirst for more of You, as we never arrive at knowing all there is of You. Show us how to love those around us in such a way, that they might see Your heart through how we love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek more of You each day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. – Ephesians 2:4-5

Don’t Settle for Crumbs

Yesterday evening was the second week of the book study I am participating in with the women of my church as we read through the book, Without Rival, by  Lisa Bevere. My personal take away from the text this week is to not “settle for crumbs” because God is calling us to feed on His faithfulness. Though sermons, podcasts, books, quotes, posts on Facebook and various other sources of uplifting material are good, they are merely crumbs compared to our seeking and finding the presence of God for ourselves.

 

But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see; eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of His Divine Being. – (Romans 1:19-20, MSG)

 

In other words, God is not difficult to find if we seek Him. It is merely a matter of opening our eyes to the world around us, as His handiwork is evident everywhere. He is faithful to meet us as we seek Him, so there is no reason not to pursue His presence for ourselves. There is abundantly, exponentially more waiting for us as we choose seek Him on our own. He longs to show us more and more of who He is and how He loves, if only we are willing to pursue His presence. May we each allow the “crumbs” to be a trail that take us into the fantastic feast of our Heavenly Father’s presence, as He is ever waiting for us to draw near, so that we might come to know Him more.

 

Settle not for crumbs,

But come forth to feast;

For there is much more,

That God will release.

As we choose to come,

He shows us the more;

A love far greater,

Than we knew before.

Each time we draw near,

He’s faithful to show;

His grace and His love,

Truth we come to know.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have so much more for us than crumbs or leftovers. Thank You that You draw us unto Yourself to experience more of You, personally. Thank You for sending Your Son to make the way for us to know You intimately and individually. Forgive us Jesus, for not seeking You for ourselves, or for settling for less than You have for us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You individually and personally, as You have so much more for us all. Show us how to love those around us in a way that points to Your goodness and faithfulness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pursue Your presence for ourselves, and feed on the faithfulness that is found in You forever. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. – James 5:13

Perfect Love Expels Fear

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. – (1 John 4:18, NLT)

Love will never invoke fear. Perfect love expels fear, particularly the fear of punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been completed through love. – (1 John 4:18, VOICE)

 

The love of God is perfect. His love draws us to desire change, rather than to run in fear. Though He is mighty and just, the Lord loves us to life again when we fall. His kindness draws us to repentance, and grows our drive to please Him. When we fear a consequence to our own actions, or some sort of separation from His love, it shows us that we have not fully grasped the depth and breadth of His amazing love for us all. There is NOTHING that can separate us from His love. This promise should promote our desire to earnestly seek Him in all things. Let us embrace the grace that we have been given through the perfect love of God, and go forth, without fear, and love well.

 

Love does not cause fear,

But drives it away;

For true love’s embrace,

Has promised to stay.

There’s nothing we do,

Nor words that we say;

That shall separate,

From His loving ways.

For love is complete,

Through His perfect love;

No fear need be near,

Where grace reigns above.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your perfect love casts out fear, and we need not be afraid. Thank You that we can come to You and confess the things that we have done, and know that You love us so much, that You will forgive us and receive us with open arms. Forgive us for our fearfulness, as we know we deserve punishment and lose sight of the greatness of Your mercy and grace. Teach us to trust You more, as You show us the fullness of Your perfect love. Help us to love those around us in such a way, that they too may see love without limits and grace that grows ever greater. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we learn to receive Your perfect love and let go of fear. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3

Love Fulfills the Law

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. – (Romans 13:10, NLT)

You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love. – (Romans 13:10, MSG)

Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires. – (Romans 13:10, VOICE)

 

When we choose to walk in love, we are opting for obedience to all that God asks of us. If we love God and love people, we are fulfilling all that the law requires. Just as God perfectly loves each of us, He equips and empowers us to go and do likewise to all whom we encounter. It is up to us to choose to share what He has granted, so that those around us might come to see and know the goodness and grace that is given through the Lord’s love. The love that God gives is patient and kind, it is not jealous or boastful, proud, rude or selfish. Love delights in the truth and does not remember wrongs. Love never gives up on people, as it never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) May we each go forth and love as we are loved by God, so that in doing so, we walk in obedience to all that the Lord requires.

 

Love does not choose hurt,

No matter what comes;

Instead it endures,

Like the rising sun.

All that is required,

Through the law of God;

Is truly fulfilled,

Despite all our flaws.

For God’s very heart,

Is clearly made known;

When we opt to love,

Just as we’ve been shown.

So let us go forth,

And love each other;

With goodness and grace,

One to another.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we choose to love as we are loved by You, we fulfill the requirements of all laws. Thank You that this is not something that we are expected to do on our own, but rather You equip and empower us to love by Your Spirit within us. Forgive us for the times that we neglect to love as we are called to do, and teach us to trust so that we might love like You. Show us how to love as we are loved, so that many might come to know the fullness of Your grace and the blessings of Your unending love. May many choose to follow You, all the days of their lives. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love others as we are loved by You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. – Job 8:21

Love Prospers Through Forgiveness

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. – (Proverbs 17:9, NLT)

Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten onto a slight and – goodbye friend! – (Proverbs 17:9, MSG)

Those who forgive faults foster love, but those who repeatedly recall them ruin relationships. – (Proverbs 17:9, VOICE)

 

I have seen both sides of the truth in these wise words that Solomon recorded. Friends who forgive, foster even closer friendships, but those who choose to dwell on something hurtful, end up losing the friendship altogether. There are times when it is necessary to forgive and walk away, but typically, hurtful things can be discussed and worked through, rather than allowing them to drive a wedge between people who are close. Most often, the offense is a misunderstanding or a misstep that was done with good, not malicious intent. Seeking to understand is always the best mode of operation, rather than harboring bitterness and cutting ties. Sadly, it takes investment from both sides, and if only one half of the equation is willing to work to make amends, then the friendship still ends up lost. May we each offer forgiveness for the faults of others, as we have been forgiven so much.

 

Where we choose forgive,

The heart of love grows;

Grace that is offered,

Makes God’s true love show.

When we dwell on hurts,

Close bonds are destroyed;

Fixing on our hurts,

Is poison employed.

Let love be fostered,

As we choose forgive;

Love well each other,

In this life we live.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You not only call us to love and forgive, but You have shown us these very acts employed, over and over again. Thank You that You continue to love and forgive us for our faults, as not one of us can navigate this life without mistakes and missteps. Forgive us for dwelling on offenses, and teach us to trust You more, so that we would choose to forgive faults and foster love, rather than repeatedly recall offenses and birth bitterness. Show us how to love as we are loved, forgiving those who offend us as we choose extend Your grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, as they come to know Your forgiveness and the depth of Your unending love. Be glorified O God, as we forgive offenses and choose to love well. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. – Hebrews 4:16

His Mission Among Us

No one has ever seen God with human eyes; but if we love one another, God truly lives in us. Consequently God’s love has accomplished its mission among us. – (1 John 4:12, VOICE)

For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us, and His love within us grows ever stronger. – (1 John 4:12, TLB)

 

The love of God is made evident in us and through us when we choose to love one another as we are loved by God. The only way this is possible, is if we seek the Lord and depend on Him. With God in us, our capacity to love grows ever stronger. Each day that we recognize and embrace the depth of God’s love for us, the better equipped we become to go and do likewise with one another. Although a baby in the womb has not yet seen its mother, he/she knows her voice and is dependent on her for all things. In the same way, we can hear and trust the Lord, for He is our Provider and Sustainer, and shows us the way to life everlasting in Him. May we ever listen for His voice as we seek Him, and trust the Lord to grow within us, the capacity to love one another as we are loved by Him.

 

Though no human eye,

Has yet seen the Lord;

His voice is made clear,

As love is outpoured.

When we choose to love,

Each other like Him;

His love’s made complete,

Accomplished mission.

For God’s own love dwells,

As we make the choice;

To listen and love,

With head, heart and voice.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we are far from perfect, Your love is made perfect within us. Thank You that the very same love You give and grow in us, is what we are empowered to do with one another. Forgive us for not choosing to love as we are loved by You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You and listen for Your voice as to how we can love each other as we are loved by You. Show us how to love those around us with word and deed, so that their hearts might be drawn ever closer to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we allow Your perfect love to flow through us, by loving those around us as we are loved by You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

When times are good, be happy. – Ecclesiastes 7:14