Wholly Love

Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV)

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ’Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, ERV)

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, MSG)

The more we love God, the more we are aware of His love for us, and the greater our desire is to do the same for those around us. To love God with our heart, soul and mind is to know with our logic, emotion and gut, who He is and the overwhelming depth of His love. As we grow in our understanding, through seeking Him, we cannot help but desire to share out of the overflow of what we have been given. God’s goodness compels us to love Him as He loves us and to do what pleases Him. May we ever seek the Lord in love to show us more and more of who He is, and rely on Him to lead us to love those around us well.

Lord, show us Your love,

So we do the same;

Lead us to love well,

To honor Your Name.

Help our minds to know,

And hearts understand;

So our souls align,

With Your holy plan.

Grow in us, purpose,

To truly love well;

With heart, soul, and mind,

As in You we dwell.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call, command, and have created us to love. Thank You that You first loved us. Forgive us for the times that we neglect to love You with all that we are, and withhold love from those around us. Teach us to trust You more so that we are “all in” loving You and loving those whom You place in our lives. Show us how to love as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You anew each day to learn how to love You and those around us more. Amen.

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

Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5

Prioritize Love

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. – (Matthew 22:37-39, HCSB)

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, ERV)

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, MSG)

When we get back to making the main things the main things, and we choose to prioritize loving God and loving people, our lives begin to more clearly reflect what God intended all along. If we invest in our relationship with God and those around us, His grace covers us and His love surrounds us. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love so that we might love one another as He loves us.

Lord, help us to love,

With all that we are;

First You, then others,

Both those near and far.

Lead us and guide us,

So that we love well;

May our words and deeds,

Of Your goodness tell.

Grant us Your patience,

Kindness and Your grace;

To truly listen,

And walk in Your ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love You and love those around us. Thank You that as we do so, we are walking in obedience to all that You ask of us. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to operate in love. Teach us how to live in the light of Your love in all that we say and do. Show us how to love You and those around us as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek Your strength to love You and love those around us as You love all of us. Amen.

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

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” – John 13:34

It’s All About Love

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV)

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, ERV)

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, MSG)

If we love God and love people in a way that truly honors and obeys His commands, ALL people will feel valued, seen, heard and known. Sadly, everywhere I look, I see evidence that we are far from this. It is devastating to hear reports of people’s brilliance being overlooked, or of individuals being treated harshly or in a way that is in no way warranted. If I read too much, or look too hard, the heaviness is overwhelming. That being said, what can one human do? The answer is Jesus. If I seek Him to lead me in love, I can be part of the change I long to see. My role is to recognize, listen to, celebrate, encourage, educate, empower, value and honor the next generation. At times, this whole remote teaching gig makes it feel like an impossible task. The kiddos whom I never “see,” I struggle to get to know. Each opportunity I have, I attempt to encourage and care well for each faceless black box, and recognize that I have no idea what their environment is truly like. My hope is that kindness and encouragement will help them feel valued, and that at the end of the day, each is aware that someone cares. Lord, help us to love You and love one another as You intended.

Lord, will You lead us,

To love as You do;

Care for each other,

Let Your light shine through.

Help us be vessels,

Afloat in Your love;

May kindness give hope,

Care that You’re proud of.

Show us the spaces,

For encouragement;

Teach us to listen,

Hear discouragement.

Lead us all in love,

So kindness may reign;

May all voices be heard,

And Your love made plain.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love You and love each other. Thank You that You have shown us what it is to truly love one another. Forgive us for the times that we have not acted or spoken in ways that demonstrate Your love to those around us. Teach us to do and be better. Help us to recognize, value, encourage and love well, all those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love You and those around us as You first loved us. Amen.

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

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. – Psalm 103:8

The Two Greatest Commands

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – (Matthew 22:37-40, NLT)

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” – (Matthew 22:37-40, MSG)

 

I am routinely amazed at how overwhelmingly blessed and loved I feel, as I try to live my life according to these two commands. When we love God and love people, the rewards far outweigh the risks. God’s love is greater than any sort of love that the human heart can hold and choosing to love people is often returned far bigger and better than we could ever hope or imagine. To love others as we love ourselves, requires that we think of others before we speak or act. Will the words that I speak or the actions that I take be ones that would be a blessing to me if I were the recipient? If not, we are likely not acting in love. Though there are times when we choose love and extend kindness to others and what is returned is far from the same, if we truly choose to love as God loves us, we will extend love anyway. We are not called to stay in harm’s way nor withstand abuse, as sometimes love leads us away to safety. Regardless of the circumstances, we can choose love as we lift others up to the Lord. He is far greater than anything or anyone who comes against us, and His love covers all. May we ever seek to follow the two greatest commands that lead to a life of walking in God’s will: Let us love God and love people.

 

With all of our heart, 

We are called to love;

God and all people,

Our charge from above.

As we love the Lord,

And choose love others;

We find that we’re blessed,

Sisters and brothers.

In God’s family,

We find love not known;

As through each other,

His goodness is shown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You made it simple for us to follow Your ways and walk in Your will through our own awareness and obedience to the two greatest commands: to love You with all that we are, and love people as we love ourselves. Forgive us for the times that we have not done either. Teach us to turn to You so that we may learn to love as we are loved by You. Show us how to love those around us, according to Your good and perfect will. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love You with all that we are and choose to love others as we desire to be loved. Amen.

 

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

 

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

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

Learning to Love as We Are Loved

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” – (Matthew 22:37-40, MSG)

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – (Matthew 22:37-40, NLT)

 

We are called to love God and love people with our whole being. If we invest our hearts and lives into loving well, then we are being obedient to that which God has commanded. Every directive that God gives us to walk upon the path that He has placed before us, is rooted and established in love. Every step is intentionally tied to loving God or loving people. The amazing thing is, if we are loving God, we cannot help but love people as well. The more we invest our hearts in Him, the more we begin to see people through His lens of love. Compassion rises within us, and we are drawn to do good. May we each invest all that we are into the pursuit of knowing and loving God, so that we can go forth and love people as we have been called to love.

 

May we choose to love,

with all that we are;

through passion and prayer,

seek the Morning Star.

For He is our God,

all love comes from Him;

the more we invest,

the more love comes in.

As our hearts are filled,

we are armed to go;

to love others well,

so God’s truth may show.

May we each be light,

obey God’s commands;

love Him and people,

so peace and truth stand. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and loving, and that through Your great love, You charge us to do likewise. Thank You that You command us to love You and others with all that we are, but You don’t expect us to do this on our own. Thank You that You empower and equip our hearts to love like You love each of us. Forgive us for not loving well, or for neglecting to invest our hearts in time with You or the things that You call us to do. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would invest all of our passion, prayer and intellect into loving You and opening our hearts to hear how You would have us love those around us. Show us how to love others as You so perfectly love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be exalted O God, as we learn how to love You and love others with all that we are. Amen.

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

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. – Genesis 21:6

Operating in Awe

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away. – (Matthew 22:22)

 

As the Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus, He responded in wisdom, as He knew the evil intent behind their inquiry. Though the Pharisees and Herodians were rarely rendered speechless, Jesus often left them with nothing to say. The truth could not be countered nor contested, as they knew that Jesus was correct in all that He had spoken.

 

How often are we left in awe? Do we give God room to speak into our lives? His wisdom, grace and goodness for us, ought to open our eyes to the awesome power that is present in God with us. In the heart of every believer, His Holy Spirit resides. So often squabbles would be silenced and storms would settle, if only we would give ear to His word. May our hearts be open and our ears be ready to hear, as Christ whispers His words that leave us awestruck by the glory of His goodness and grace.

 

In awe and wonder,

Artwork by Sylvia Carlton – please click image to see more 🙂

we stand here, amazed;

at the Lord’s wisdom,

given by His grace.

He looks to the heart,

He knows our intent;

His grace as our guide,

leads us to repent.

May we give God room,

to move in power;

let obedience,

move us each hour.

Lord, as we listen,

help us follow through;

choose to walk Your way,

life faithful to You.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and loving and kind, and that who You are leaves us in awe. Thank You that when we slow down and make time to listen, You speak to our hearts. Forgive us for not recognizing the awesome power that is present in You (present in us) through the gift of Your Holy Spirit, and help us to stand firm in the truth. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may give You room to move in our hearts and our lives. Let the lost be found as we live in love, listening to Your leading. Be glorified, O God, as we operate in awe of just how great You are. Amen.

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

The joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10

The Presence of His Power

Mere man is no match for the power of the living God. Three times in Matthew 22, the Pharisees and Sadducees, (the most educated minds of the day) attempted to trap Jesus with their questions. Each time an attempt was made, the people were amazed at the power and authority with which Jesus answered. Jesus knew their evil intent, and was able to expose it each time. “No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.” – (Matthew 22:46)

 

The power of God at work in Christ, granting wisdom and knowledge, power and strength, is available to all who believe. We too, have access to answers when challenged with difficult questions. When we seek Him, we will find Him, if we seek Him with all of our heart. Jesus was intentional to take time alone to be with the Father to pray. He modeled for us, what is needed to access the very same power that dwells within the hearts of all who have invited Him in. Christ is present and available, and willing to be our help and our hope.

 

The power of God,

is alive and free;

I need only ask,

it’s given to me.

Wisdom and knowledge,

power and the strength;

to withstand struggles,

and traverse great lengths.

Greater is the One,

whose dwelling in me;

than all who challenge,

cause adversity.

His presence is found,

as I choose to seek;

He is my true strength,

when I’m feeling weak.

All that is needed,

is found in the Lord;

there’s no other name,

my shield and my sword.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that the very same power that was in Jesus that granted Him wisdom and power to face all who opposed Him, is alive and available to us. Thank You that we too, can move in wisdom and power as You have commissioned us, if we place our trust in You. Forgive us for our fears and doubts, and help us to trust completely, in the mighty power that dwells within us. Make us strong to trust You as we move in faith, and help many come to know the fullness of a life lived in Your love. Let those who are looking, find You. May we honor You in all that we say and do, and may we move mightily in Your strength today. 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