How Love’s Made Complete

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. – (1 John 4:11-12, NIV)

This is how much God loved us, dear friends! So we also must love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us. If we love each other, God’s love has reached its goal – it is made perfect in us. – (1 John 4:11-12, ERV)

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and His love becomes complete in us – perfect love! – (1 John 4:11-12, MSG)

God’s overwhelming, never-ending, sacrificial love demonstrates to us, repeatedly, what love ought to be. Though we have not seen the face of God yet, we can clearly see His love all around us. Our charge is to love like Him so that His love may be made complete in us and give those around us the opportunity to come to know the same. Through loving God and loving people, God works in and through us to more clearly make His love known. We are imperfect vessels, yet we are perfectly loved and can extend the same to those around us as we trust and rely on God to lead us. Today, my Viking is taking the day off to accompany me to an appointment with a specialist. He did not have to, yet I am comforted in knowing he will be beside me as we discover possible next steps and a plan for continued healing and care. His loving sacrifice for me is a glimpse of just how much God loves us and is made tangible through my spouse. May we ever seek the Lord, who lives in us, to lead us in His perfect love so that we may clearly share the goodness of God.  

God’s love is perfect,

His goodness made known;

Evident through those,

Who seek to be shown.

Shown goodness and grace,

Loving sacrifice;

A love so much more,

Than just being nice.

The love of God sees,

And then reaches out;

Both actions and words,

That of goodness shout.

O Lord, please lead us,

To love as You do;

Never withholding,

The light that is You.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love is perfect. Thank You that You show us again and again, the goodness and fullness of Your love through those around us. Forgive us for the times that our words and actions did not clearly reflect Your heart to those around us. Teach us to listen well, so that we might make the most of every opportunity to love as we are loved by You. Show us how to love those around us as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank and praise You for the countless ways that You make Your love known and seek You to lead us so Your love is shown. Amen.

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

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Love Reaches Out

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. – (1 John 4:10, NIV)

True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent His Son as the way to take away our sins. – (1 John 4:10, ERV)

This is love: He loved us long before we loved Him. It was His love, not ours. He proved it by sending His Son to be a pleasing sacrificial offering to take away our sins. – (1 John 4:10, TPT)

 

Love is sacrificial and does not love because it receives. Love chooses to give because it is the right thing to do. God has shown us what it is to love, as He loved us while we were far from loving Him. His love covers us and changes our hearts, leading us to Him who is love, so that we too, might love one another. To love is a daily decision to choose, not an emotion based on how we feel. Extending God’s heart to the world is our opportunity and call to love as we are commanded to do. This is a far easier charge with those who love us back. However, we are still called to love those who do not. It does not mean we are to be unwise and take abuse or allow boundaries to be violated, but it does mean that we must continue to extend kindness and grace, even to those who do not seem to understand either in return. We never know the impact that our choice to love will have, yet we do know that each decision to love plants a seed that another can water, and still another can sow. God knows, and this is why He calls us to keep loving as He loves us. May we go forth and choose to love, just as God first loved us.

 

After eluding to the pending change, today is the official day that Mom will be moving into her new place, back in Wenatchee. She still has her home, but for now, will be in a smaller, more manageable space where help is available as needed, while she continues to rebuild and gain strength. Already, there have been joyful celebrations, as Megan and Scott made the journey with her back to Wenatchee from Albany, Oregon, and have spent time since Thursday afternoon in Mom’s home. What a difference for Mom to be back in her home and able to walk around freely with her cane, rather than using a walker with someone following closely behind to be sure she was steady on her feet. Mom’s joy has returned, as it was apparent that she desperately needed to be back home, in her own community. Mark and I are very much looking forward to driving over tomorrow to spend the day with her and check out her new place, and take her wherever her heart desires to go. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the sacrificial love that my sister and her family have made over the last six months, as they opened their home and hearts to walk with mom through the most recent leg of her healing journey. We all are excited to see the progress she will make now, as she reenters life back in her own community. Mom loved the support of family that she has had since her stroke, but we all knew that she was at a point where she needed to be reengaged with the community she loves and has invested so deeply in. May love be what leads every person who interacts with Mom as she continues to move forward on this healing journey.

 

To love is a choice,

It reaches out first;

Gives kindness always,

In best and in worst.

For just as God loves,

And shows love to us;

We must also love,

Choose extend kindness.

True love gives the best,

Prefers each other;

No matter what comes,

Love one another.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You first loved us and made the way for us to love You and love one another. Thank You that You are love. Forgive us for the times that we do not extend the love that we are called to give. Teach us to trust and rely on You more, so that we would love big, even when what comes back to us is less than loving. Show us how to love those around us in the ways that it is needed most. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love each other as You love us. Amen.

 

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

 

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:10

Steady Me

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. – (Psalm 37:23-24, NIV)

The Lord shows us how we should live, and He is pleased when He sees people living that way. If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord reaches out to steady them. – (Psalm 37:23-24, ERV)

If you are right with God, He strengthens you for the journey; the Eternal will be pleased with your life. And even though you trip up, you will not fall on your face because He holds you by the hand. – (Psalm 37:23-24, VOICE)

 

As we seek the heart of God and pursue the path that pleases Him, He takes us by the hand and leads us in the ways we are meant to go. Even when we slip up and make mistakes, He upholds us and steadies us so that we will not fall. God is full of grace, and He is faithful to lead us as we look to Him in all things and at all times. May we ever pursue the heart of God, in whom we delight, trusting Him to direct our steps and uphold us with His holy hand.

 

When we choose the Lord,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

And trust in His ways;

By grace, He will lead,

Hold us up, always.

Though we may stumble,

He won’t let us fall;

As we take His hand,

Seek answer His call.

The Lord, He is pleased,

When we look to Him;

To lead and guide us,

As each day begins.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You lead us and guide us, and uphold us by Your mighty hand. Forgive us for taking our eyes off of You and the direction that You call us to. Teach us to trust You more, so that no matter what comes our way, we rest secure, knowing that You have hold of our hand and will not let go. Show us how to love those around us in a way that strengthens, encourages and uplifts those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and trust You for all of our days. Amen.

 

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

 

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – Psalm 18:32

 

 

In God We Can Trust

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, NLT)

Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps His covenant of loyal love with those who love Him and observe His commandments for a thousand generations. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, MSG)

 

God is faithful to keep His promises and will continue to generously give His unfailing love to those who choose to love and obey Him. When we recognize God for who He is, we cannot help but long to please Him. The very same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all that is within them, hand-crafted each of us, and longs to live in relationship with us. To be loved personally by He who is so much greater than our minds can even conceive, is completely overwhelming. How can we help but love and honor the very hands that held the heart that beats within us, before we breathed our first breath? May we recognize God and who He is, and choose to love and obey all that He commands.

 

The hands that stretched out,

to place all the stars;

are the hands of love,

that come where we are.

The Lord reaches out,

He’s faithful and true;

to all who choose trust,

in Him, be made new.

As we choose obey,

and love by our will;

His promises kept,

our hearts His love fills.

No matter what comes,

in God we can trust;

our hope is secure,

for His ways are just.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we recognize You as our God, and love and obey what You ask, You are faithful to Your promises and lavish us with Your unfailing love. Thank You that You do not expect perfection, but rather hearts that are earnestly seeking You and Your best for our lives. Thank You that You are always ready and willing to meet us in each moment, wherever we are. Forgive us for our disobedience or hesitation when You call us into something that seems further or more difficult than we have ever gone or done before. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would remember that if You call us into something, You are ready to equip us to do what You are asking and go wherever You are leading. Show us how to love others as You so lavishly love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love and obey all that You ask of us, for You are God indeed, on whom we can depend. Amen.

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

Shout aloud and sing for joy. – Isaiah 12:6

Showing Real Love

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)

If what we say and what we do are not in alignment, our love is not real.  Love is made evident through our ongoing actions and attitudes toward others.  We can talk the talk, but unless we walk the walk also, it is meaningless chatter, and we are not truly children of the King.  God calls us to a higher standard.  His expectation is that we love as He loved.  This is not something He expects of us in our own strength – for we would surely fail if that were so.  However, Christ in us, equips and empowers us to demonstrate the very love that Christ has poured so generously into us, by doing the same for others.  It is not merely something for us to talk about, but rather to go and do.  Love is a verb that requires forward momentum.  Sometimes love sits silently beside the hurting.  At other times, love reaches out to those stuck in their own space and says, “You are seen.”  Love sees a need and acts.  It is not a matter of whether or not we are called to do this or that, but rather if we see it, we ought to do what we can.  If what we have to do is offer a silent prayer, then do so in love.  May we go forth this day showing our love through the things that we do.

Love is not merely,

a mixture of words;

for though they’re spoken,

only action’s heard.

For just talk alone,

does nothing to touch;

those hurting, in need,

yet actions do much.

Love chooses to reach,

when we want to run;

for that’s what God did,

when He sent His Son.

Lord, help us to love,

in word and in deed;

be Your hands and heart,

to all those in need.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that love is more than words or talk.  Thank You that real love is shown in what we do.  Thank You that You have shown us the greatest love ever known, when You sent Your only Son to die in our place, so that we could have eternal life with You.  Thank You Jesus, that the grave could not keep You, and that You returned to the Father to send Your Spirit to indwell us so that we could do as You did.  Forgive us for not loving with our actions.  Teach us to trust You more so that our words and actions align with all that You are calling us to do to love others well.  Lead us to love each person that You place on our path, just as You call us to do.  May many come into a lasting relationship with You as a result.  Be glorified O God, as we demonstrate Your love through not only our words, but our actions too.  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