Love GOD, Love People

[juliejlee]

Your kindness draws us to your throne of grace...

We lay it all down at the altar, Jesus.

[the-worship-project]

Mercies - original print from The Worship Project.

In the wake of one of the most horrific weeks of recent years, I’ve been reflecting on what message I feel that the Lord has for His people.

Obviously I don’t presume to know the mind of God, but I’ve found that when a song gets stuck in my head, it often contains something that I feel the Lord wants to speak to us. You could read this and call it “cliche”. You could read this and hopefully catch a glimpse of the Father heart of God. I pray you abide with the latter.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23. (Song lyrics from “Mercies” by Miriam Webster)

There are two points that I feel the Spirit whispering to my heart:

1. The Lord is full of steadfast LOVE and MERCY for all those affected by these tragedies last week (incl. all the suffering the globe-wide). He’s relentlessly pursuing everyone on this earth, and He will use whatever situations surround us (no matter how horrific) to try and woo His children back to Himself.

2. His mercy, steadfast love, and faithfulness is not just for the victims. Jesus is WILDLY in love with every person. From the innocent victims to the ISIS radicals. He came to earth that NO man perish, no matter how evil they are, or the horrific things that they might do.

So amongst all the ‪#‎prayforparis‬ sentiments, I want to offer a reminder to‪#‎prayforeveryONE‬. No matter how demonized, troubled, disillusioned, or filled with hate, someone may be - they’re not beyond the loving mercy of Christ. He died for them as much as for you and me.

We join with the groaning earth, “weeping with those who weep”. And we fervently turn to Jesus and whisper “come Lord Jesus, come.”

* * *

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[mirapaege96]

[juliejlee]

sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can hurt me too...

I’m realizing more and more how much power people’s words have over me.

I long for that affirmation, “Oh, you’re good at this!”, “Oh, you’re so this!”, “Oh you’re so that!”. But when people do affirm me in Christ’s love, I find myself not being able to receive it with an open heart. I start to cringe and feel so uncomfortable...

But when I hear words of mockery, criticism, gossip. I drink it in...I let them define who I am. It’s so easy to say with my mouth, “Lord Jesus, you are the only one that can define who I am. I am secure in my identity in you.” But in reality, I am swayed by these simple words.

Lord, please help me to look to you always. Help me to listen for your voice. Help me to find confidence in the ways that you see me. And I thank you for knowing all of me and yet loving me to the fullest.

“Now I am hidden In the safety of your love I trust your heart and your intentions Trust you completely I’m listening intently You’ll guide me through these many shadows”

[burning-stmandard-deactivated20]

America 1968 2015

TIME’s Baltimore Cover With Aspiring Photographer Devin Allen

Source: TIME

[juliejlee]

My heart is the wick

Your love is the flame

I want to burn for your name

Lord, set our hearts ablaze for you. We want to burn bright for your name--that when we burn, the darkness trembles and flees. Because where there is light, there is no room for darkness.

[juliejlee]

Soak in the shadow of Jesus. Saturate your soul with the ways of Jesus. Watch Him. Listen to Him. Stand in awe of Him. Let Him overwhelm you with the way He is.

-John Piper

[juliejlee]

hope.

These past months, I feel like the enemy has cast such a darkness over our lives--whether it's our personal struggles or all of the tragedy and injustice that has been happening in our school, in our nation, in our world...Just so much darkness. Even today, I got a message from my mom that a dear family friend had lost his battle to cancer and went to be with the Lord. Even though I didn't know him well, there was a grief that weighed down my spirit. As I was crying out to God, all I could really say to Him was "WHY?" Why, God, is there so much suffering? Why, God, is there so much darkness and pain? Why, God, why?

But that's when an overwhelming peace just flowed over me. In His gentle grace, He reminded me of the hope that we have in Him--the hope that burns like a flame in our hearts. We have this hope because He has already won the battle on the cross. He is victorious over all things--even when these issues seem to loom over us like mountains. God is bigger. He is greater.

Today was a reminder to continue to let the flame burn within our hearts. No matter what the enemy does, to let the fire burn brighter and brighter--for this flame is the hope we have in the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings.

Remember, where there is light, there is no room for darkness.

[juliejlee]

do whatever it takes, GOD. i am yours.

[31women]

Christianity is not an accessory. You don’t take it off because it doesn’t complement you at a specific time.

31women (via 31women)

[hopemovementau-deactivated20180]

Allow God to continually soften your heart so that it beats for what His heart beats for — people.

Christine Caine (via breanna-lynn)

[worshipgifs]

x

[juliejlee]

YES.

[worshipgifs]

[juliejlee]

You make beautiful things| You make beautiful things out us

[juliejlee]

at war.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies; my flesh says to hate them.

Jesus tells us to encourage others; my flesh says to gossip.

Jesus tells us not to judge others; my flesh says to point fingers.

Jesus tells us to forgive; my flesh says to stay bitter.

Jesus tells us to give selflessly; my flesh says to be selfish.

Jesus tell us to be pure and holy; my flesh says to lust.

Jesus tells us to GO; my flesh says to stay in my comfort zone.

Lord, I constantly find myself at war with you. I know that you call us for greater and better things, but I seem to settle for the junk food that is laying on the ground. Lord, would you give me the strength to fight this good fight--not fight to live, but fight to die.

Die to myself.

[heryearnings]

[jspark3000]

Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted — i.e., keep fulfilling all the obvious duties of your station (you really know quite well enough what they are!), asking forgiveness for each failure and then leaving it alone. You are in the right way. Walk — don’t keep on looking at it.

C.S. Lewis

Happy heart, because He is still in the process of sanctifying me — long ways to go, but He who has promised to walk with me is wise, faithful, kind, gracious, and loving :)

[juliejlee]

stress

go away.