Courageously Love

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, NIV)

Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. Do everything in love. – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ERV)

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, MSG)

 

No matter where we are, where we go, or who we are with, we are called to stand firm in our faith. It takes courage to be strong in our convictions, especially to do so in love. We must remain ever aware, through the lens of love, so that we can see others through His love, and respond accordingly. Loving others who see the world differently, who choose to operate through a different set of convictions, does not mean that we are unable to love. Our charge is to stand firm in what we are called to do and who we are called to be, yet ever doing so in love. In today’s political climate, this can get a bit crazy if we focus on the beliefs, rather than the individuals who hold them close. What I have discovered is that the seemingly vast divide is not nearly as great as the media makes it out to be. The majority of the people I know and love, despite being on both sides of the debate, take their particular side for personal reasons that are valid. Ultimately, each wants what is best for themselves, their families, their city and their nation. If only disputes could be approached in love… May we ever keep our eyes open, holding fast to our convictions, always choosing to love without stopping.

Mom is standing firm in her faith as she is being courageous in her convictions and strong to persevere with each new therapy appointment. Love surrounds her, and at the end of the day, she is a step closer to the end goal than she was the day prior. Days likely feel like spinning wheels, yet I anticipate when I at last get to go and see mom for myself, I will notice significant progress. Our prayer is still for her to regain movement in her right arm, as there really is none beyond small movements in her shoulder. Please pray with us for her right arm to be regained, and for her ongoing recovery to continue well.

 

Be ever on guard,

Hold fast to what’s true;

Stand firm in the faith,

To God what is due.

Courageous and strong,

Do all things in love;

Love one another,

As loved from above.

No matter what comes,

Choose seek to love first;

So often we find,

Ugly is reversed.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us what it means to stand firm in our convictions and do everything in love. Thank You Jesus, that You loved the sinners, the outcasts and the rejected, yet never compromised who You are to love. Forgive us for the times that we have walked away from the opportunity to love. Show us how to love others well, especially those who see the world differently than we do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we stand firm in the truth, and choose to courageously love in all things. Amen.

 

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

 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2

In Strength, Choose Love

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, NIV)

Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. Do everything in love. – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ERV)

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, MSG)

 

This is something that we are all called to live out, in every area of our lives. It is both rare and wonderful, when there are public figures who live by this principle in a way that is seen, heard and known. Last night, my husband and I went to a concert that featured my favorite band, Skillet. Their lead vocalist, John Cooper, is completely clear in his convictions as he performs, and is courageous and strong as he shares his music and message in love. After more than twenty-three years as a Christian band that tours with bands that typically are not, and it is evident that they are careful to be on their guard and hold firm to their faith. Each time I have seen them in concert, the other bands touring with them have raved about the kindness extended to them by Skillet. What that speaks to me is that they are living out loud, the very message that they follow in faith. If a rock band can cling to their convictions and love well, why can’t we? May we each be aware of the things that distract us from what is true, and with courage and strength, hold fast to the faith that anchors us secure. And in all that we do, may we let love be our motivation.

 

Help us guard our hearts,

To our faith, hold fast;

Have courage, be strong,

With the love that lasts.

For each time we choose,

In strength, to love well;

We are showing Christ,

His story we tell.

Not with our speaking,

So much as our deeds;

People remember,

Those who met their needs.

Let us choose to love,

In all that we do;

Rely on His grace,

He’ll carry us through.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You warn us to be careful of that which distracts us from the truth, and You call us to stand firm in Your strength to the truth so that we may do all things in love. Forgive us for the times that we allowed the things around us to pull us off course. Teach us to stay anchored in You. Show us how to love those around us in all things and at all times, just as we are loved relentlessly by You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we stand strong in the truth, ever aware of what surrounds us, and choose to love, just as You love us. Amen.

 

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

 

Stand firm , and you will win life. – Luke 21:19

Hold On to the Faith You Have

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. – (Revelation 3:11, NLT)

I am coming soon. Hold on to the faith you have, so that no one can take away your crown. – (Revelation 3:11, ERV)

 

Our hope is found in Christ alone. What we have is the security in knowing that no matter what happens in the here and now, our ultimate destination is assured if we have given our heart to Him. There are days that faith is the only thing that we have to hold, as what is seen seems to dictate anything other than hope. However, when we know the Lord and have seen the work of His hand in our lives, we can trust His word to be true and hold fast to the faith that we have come to know. May we trust in the One who has given us life and breath, as He will be the One to ultimately lead us home.

 

The God of all grace, 

Has promised to us;

A future secure,

Through our Lord Jesus.

The part that’s required,

Is we must hold fast;

To the faith we know,

For His word shall last.

If to Christ we’re true,

Hold tight to what’s found;

Our future’s secure,

As is kingdom crown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, our future is secure. Thank You that we have faith for today and hope for tomorrow. Thank You that we are called sons and daughters when we choose to follow You. Thank You that no one can take away our faith. Forgive us for being fickle or wavering in our walk with You. Teach us to trust You in all things, so that we hold fast to all that we have in You. Show us how to love others with the same grace and fervor by which You love us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we hold on to what we have in You forever. Amen.

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

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:5

When My Soul Waits

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. – (Psalm 130:5, NIV)

I am waiting for the Lord to help me. My soul waits for Him. I trust what He says. – (Psalm 130:5, ERV)

Often, it seems that there is a season of waiting between active steps of obedience. It is in this in-between time that we are in what feels like a holding pattern, yet it is in this very space that we are called to wait and to trust in Him. Hope rises as we actively engage in time spent with Him. As we wait, He stretches, refines, restores, grows and prepares us for the next steps we are meant to take. Though waiting seasons are a struggle, the result of such seasons is something stronger and far more than we had imagined before. May we wait on the Lord in trust, and place our hope in His word.

O Lord the waiting,

is so hard to do;

seasons of stillness,

of trusting what’s true.

Lord help me in faith,

to Your hope, hold tight;

Your timing’s perfect,

and Your plans are right.

I trust who You are,

and Your word is true;

prepare this old heart,

for what I’m to do.

Let Your hope arise,

where doubt has crept in;

restore strength and faith,

fan the flames within.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we wait for You, we can put our hope in You and Your word. Thank You that You are truth and light and life. Forgive us for our lack of patience and endurance in the seasons of waiting, and teach us to trust in You, so that we will see these seasons as opportunities to be stretched, strengthened and transformed into more of who You have created us to become. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they see You through all that we do and say. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we wait in trust with hope, as You direct our every step. 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