There are so many people out there who are looking for love, only to be disappointed, disillusioned and dissatisfied. They program themselves with Hollywood’s version thinking that is true love, then when they marry they realize that was a fantasy, nothing vaguely familiar with what they’re experiencing. Relationship after relationship, they try to duplicate what’s been programed into them, but nothing seems to satisfy the deep longing in their soul for love.

My friend, you can stop looking now because your true love is God. I know, you want someone you can actually wrap your arms around, someone to share life with, perhaps have children together. Look no further! Love has found you.

If your spirit isn’t totally satisfied with the love that only God’s Spirit can provide, then you will never be satisfied with a flesh man or woman. No matter how hard you try, if your spirit doesn’t know love, you will have no reservoir to draw from to give out to others. Only God can satisfy the deep longing in you for love.

Walt and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary on Valentines Day, so I think I know what I’m talking about. I had a great relationship with God before we were married, but marriage has a way of magnifying all faults until they consumed me and tried to blind me to the good I’d once seen in him. I hadn’t realized it, but I had taken my focus from God and placed it on man, putting all the responsibility to have my needs met by someone just as human as I.

But God has a way to cause our hearts to be hungry for Him again. He told me, “You work on you, I’ll work on him.” As soon as I began to place my focus and trust back on God, my love for Walt came back. I no longer placed pressure on him to meet my needs because my needs were being met by the love of God. Only He can truly satisfy the deep longings for love, man in himself is ill equipped to do that.

As long as I spend time with God every day, Walt just naturally wants to be with me, to love me, talk with me and have fun with me. It doesn’t mean we don’t still have problems, it means we have someone perfect as an example of real love. I’m no longer fearful of being left alone because as long as I continue keeping God as my focus, I will never, ever be alone.

I John 3:18-20 Msg; My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

Thank You, Father for giving me the capacity to love You. Not because I’ve done anything to deserve it, You marked me for love. My story is constantly being updated. It’s book 40 of a continuing saga. It’s better than man could write because it’s OUR love story. You constantly surprise me by showing me more and more of Yourself. All this love enables me to love others more. Continue to wow me today with this strong, deep and abiding love. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

There are two verses I’d like to start with this morning that show what the nature of love does. Proverbs 10:12; Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Proverbs 17:9 ERV; Forgive someone, and you will strengthen your friendship. Keep reminding them, and you will destroy it.

Walt has always said, “Love is a choice! I choose to love you!” When he would say that to me, I’d feel like I was hard to love (and I’m sure at times I am), but he was making the choice to love when his nature didn’t feel like it. He chose to love when his flesh maybe wanted to hate or be frustrated. He was saying that you can never rely on your fickle feelings when it comes to loving others.

God loves like that. When He looks at us, He sees us through Jesus. When we are at our worst, He loves us. When we feel ugly, He loves us. He sees His creation. His children. He loves us. The ultimate choice is to love, because love covers up every wrong done. It doesn’t hold them in a bag for the next time you screw up and then pull them out and show them to everyone. No, it gets rid of them, covers them up so that they’re never seen again.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean we won’t remember. We’re human. But when we do, we chose to forgive, to love unconditionally, to give 100 more chances, to remind them of their Fathers love. That’s what the world can’t understand. God’s love. That’s why He put us here, so that we could show others that deep, constant love. It should be the very foundation of everything we do, every decision we make.

There’s freedom in love. It’s not based on feelings, it’s based on a choice, which goes against reasoning’s. It doesn’t make sense, it just keeps on loving.

Father, you chose to love us while we were still wallowing in sin. Since there was only one sacrifice that could buy us back, you gave your son so that you could once again show us your love. Each time I come before you, I sense that deep abiding love and I’m thankful. Help me to take the blanket of your love and cover others with it so that they too can know your love. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love. I Corinthians 13:1-3 ERV

Love must be the foundation in which all of these things above are built on. Paul says so clearly that we can do all of these things, but if without love, it’s basically a waste of time. That’s pretty sad, isn’t it. I have watched people try to impress others with all of their sacrifices, their donations to the poor, but are bitter toward their family, church members or pastors. Sweetest people with a root of bitterness are not sweet when things take a turn and they’re no longer in control.

Here’s a little quiz to check yourself, just to see if you truly walk in untainted love:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.  Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it.  Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth.  Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. I Corinthians 13:4-7

Hmmmm, I personally see some areas I need to work on, lest I’m merely busy doing and not so good at reflecting. What are my motives? If it’s not to reflect the love of God then I’m just taking up space because I’m no good to God on earth if I don’t walk in love.

Father, purify my heart, see if there be any impure motives, things that taint the love that you’ve placed in my heart. Wash me and I will be clean, made white as snow. That I would not be guilty of experiencing Your great love, but hoarding it and not giving away the gift of love You bestowed on me. Give me opportunities to love, all day, everyday. May I not fail You in this great walk of love. It’s in Jesus’ name I love, Amen.

I Thessalonians 1:3 ERV; We thank God for you always. And that’s what we should do, because you give us good reason to be thankful: Your faith is growing more and more. And the love that every one of you has for each other is also growing.

Did you know that love grows? It does! Just like anything that God creates, it was meant to be planted and grow. I think of God as a Master Gardener. Remember that He created the Garden of Eden and gave it to Adam and Eve to tend? Remember what He told them? Be fruitful and multiply. God talks in garden terms.

Remember when Jesus said, “Those who sow sparingly shall reap sparingly.” He’s not just talking about money, he’s talking about seed. What was the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and what is the second? Love your neighbor as yourself. All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands.

I don’t believe you can truly understand God, the Bible, prophesy, anything without allowing the love of God to grow in you, and the only way it will grow is to love others. It didn’t say to just love nice people, it said to love your neighbors and some neighbors aren’t very nice. You can have itsy bitsy love, but if you plant it into others, it is guaranteed to grow to a capacity that you won’t hardly be able to contain it.

Grow my love, Father. Grow it big! Grow it strong! May it begin in me and generate out to change those around me. May Your love that You’ve placed in me, be so evident that it heals the sick, raises the dead, breaks oppression, hits the mark every time. Use me as Your garden of love, Master Gardener. May it radiated from my face, my acts of service, at home, work, church and life. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

This is Valentines week where people around the world focus on love. But love is more than a feeling, it’s the very nature of the one we claim is our Father, who we should attempt to be like, everyday, in every way.

I John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

It’s easy to love someone who is nice to us, always kind and thoughtful, but God’s love was so big that it gave. He didn’t just give a little, He gave His son, Jesus to die for the vilest person on earth so that each and every person would have a chance to receive that sacrifice and come back into fellowship with Him.

Receiving the Spirit of God in us is to yield to His Spirit, not our own. We exchange our nature for His nature, which means we take on the very nature of God which is LOVE. I’ve seen so many ‘Christians’ who say they are His, but they’re bitter, unforgiving, hurtful, hateful, self-seeking, selfish, lovers of pleasures. You can’t tell them apart from anyone on the face of the earth, the only difference is that they go to church. Really? When you receive the sacrifice of Jesus, it’s an exchange of your sin nature for His Love nature.

You don’t decide WHO you will love, you allow HIS love to love through you. God is love. We should also be love. That’s loving the sinner, the weirdo, the unnatural, the angry, the bitter, the haters of this world. Being the light of love you were created to be. Yes, that includes the stupid! Those who know better but aren’t quite there yet. Those who insist on doing things the hard way, the long way, those who don’t listen, those who refuse to be loved.

So Father, first of all I’d like to ask forgiveness for my unwillingness to love ‘some’ people. I guess I should have come to You and asked You how to do that instead of walking away. I thank You that Your grace, Your undeserved favor, covers all my mistakes, missteps and fumbles. Today, I submit to leave the comfort of the ‘easy to love’ zone and step into the ‘wild and crazy’ zone of Your love. In honor of You, Your nature, Your love for me and Your patience with me, I chose to chase down Your love so that I can love like You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

There I was, minding my own business, reading an article of a woman minister who was struggling with the fact that so many she had prayed for were still dying of cancer. She told of a vision she had of Jesus where he said, “I already gave you the power to destroy cancer!”

She revisited a man who was given only months to live who she had recently prayed for, to find him healthy and full of life and she stated to him that he looked well. He told her that after she had prayed, he visited his doctor and was given a clean bill of health. This is what I want you to see; The very moment we believe that what Jesus did on the cross was a complete work, we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 ASV says; But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Did you see that? We ARE healed. It’s not a past or future tense he uses there. It’s a current tense. That man was healed long before he received the report from the doctor, he was healed the moment he believed the report of the Lord.

Whose Report Will You Believe? Those in the Pentecostal circles are well familiar with this song sung by Ron Kenoly. “His report says I am healed. His report says I am filled. His report says I am free. His report says victory.” We shouldn’t have to hear it from a man to believe, we should believe the Word that’s been spoken centuries ago. It’s a proven word. It’s alive and powerful. It contains the very life and breath of God. It won’t return empty but will always hit the mark.

If you’ve been diagnosed with an obscene disease, read what the Word says about healing. Read the many stories of Jesus healing ALL, not some. He died so that you don’t have to carry sickness in your body. The problem is never with the Word of God but our lack of trust in Him to keep His Word.

Father, forgive me for unbelief. What right do I have to hold a doctors report as a higher authority than Yours. Each time I do, I allow that sickness or disease to have a place in me. I bind all sickness right now in Jesus’ name. I bind cancer. Diseases of the eyes. Joint pain and arthritis. Lupus. Skin cancer. Breast cancer. NO MORE! I thank You Father that you always watch over Your Word to preform it. I BELIEVE. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

What is peace? The dictionary defines peace as; freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity. Well than…..I dare say that my mind is not always at peace. In fact, I can definitely say that often the opposite is true.

Annoyed-more times than I can count. Distracted-most of the time.  Anxious-you do know that’s worry’s sister, right? For the most part, every time I strive for peace, something happens to cause the opposite affect on my mind and heart. I know it’s not what I’m suppose to do or be, but still, the struggle is real.

This morning, I didn’t want to write from the place my heart had gone. There was no peace, only the above 3 friends seemed to knock at the door. They were not welcomed or invited, yet they shoved the door open and made themselves at home. It was than that I realized I needed to extract those unwelcomed guests, take back my home and the intended peace that God wanted me to have.

It seems to be all about choices, doesn’t it. Each time those peace thieves come, I must be the one to lock the door, fortify it so that they simply can’t enter in.  Paul knew what he was talking about when he wrote to the Philippians,

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

^“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:6-9 Msg

Did you see that? Don’t let it wander to take on problems and stress that you weren’t designed to carry. If offense is handed to you, refuse to receive it. If someone tries to push their problems on you, refuse to carry them. With all diligence, be purposeful in retaining your peace. You only have one mind and you can’t afford to lose it!

Father, so many times I’ve allowed my peace to be disturbed because of external pressures, distractions and frustrations. It all boils down to trust, doesn’t it? I say I do, but do I really trust You? I remember when I was young, having to write something on the chalk board 100 times so I would remember. It was probably, “I will not talk in class.” Didn’t learn that too well, did I. Keep my heart tender and teachable, Lord. May I constantly remind myself that You have this and stop trying to take it back. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Abundance; an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply

You were never meant to be broke; God is your Provider. You were never meant to be sick; God is your Healer. You were never meant to be fearful; God is your Protector. You were never meant to be alone; God is with you. Your husband is His. Your children are His. Your life is His. He is God and there is no other. If He is for you, who can be against you? Won’t you just take a moment and thank Him? He’s been all this and more to you.

II Corinthians 9:8 AMP: And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

Here we are trying to do it all in ourselves and God has already provided every favor and earthly blessing, every miracle needed, every way of escape, everything we will ever need, and placed it inside of us. He simply wants our trust. Think about that. How drastically would your life change if you really believed that verse? You wouldn’t sweat it, you’d believe and trust Him for direction, than out of that trust, you’d submit and do it His way.

Father, so many times I just wanted to be in control and I’ve so messed things up! I repent of my self-sufficiency. What was I thinking? That I had enough wisdom in myself to make it happen? I realize now that everything in my life is designed to develop utmost trust in You. So today, I submit and surrender the lordship of my life to You, the author and finisher of my faith.

You have placed in me everything I need, it’s Your Holy Spirit. He counsels me, instructs and directs my steps. He keeps me healthy and strong, keeps me balanced, helps me to walk in love, to forgive and accept forgiveness. He either removes obstacles, shows me how to get around or over them. Every good and perfect gift is from You. You are the only wise one. You have provided a table filled with goodness, grace and mercy, just as my enemy thought he’d defeated me, my trust in You paid off and you whooped his loser self.

You are amazing beyond words, even beyond my ability to comprehend. Therefore I will hope in my God. I will not give up or quit. I know that You hear every word I speak, therefore I will remind You of Your promises to me and know that You deliver on them and keep Your Word. It’s in Jesus name and for Your glory, Amen.

Blame is responsible for holding hostage so many blessings we should be walking in. Every time we blame, we’re refusing to accept responsibility for our own actions or lack of action.

I’ve sat in so many counseling sessions where blame was shifted on whomever or whatever else was in the room. Blame on parents, blame on the employer, blame on the other man, the other woman, blame on a friend, etc. You get the picture, right? We all do it. It’s called pride and refusing to take responsibility.

You may have had some bad breaks in life, but you are responsible for what you do with what happens to you. Until you are, your life will never change and no matter what you say, next year will be no different than this year. You can throw out every New Years resolution into the atmosphere, but until you actually shift your thinking and do something about the fingers you’re pointing at others, you’ll be watching reruns of every other year you’ve had.

Luke 6:45 Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” If you don’t like what you see, change it. Begin to fill your mind and heart with good things. Own up to your wrongs and ask God to change you from the inside out. God created you in His image and likeness and He is Love. Learn to love like Him. Memorize the love chapter, I Corinthians 13, and every day, determine to love like that.

Stop playing the blame game! When you humble yourself and accept responsibility, things will begin to change. Your marriage will change, your children will change, your job will change, your past will be just that-past! Leave it there and move on! Your happiness isn’t determined by others, it’s determined by YOU. If you want to go somewhere different, you must hop onto a different path, otherwise the scenery will never change. You can’t go forward while looking behind you. You’re bound to run into something you weren’t expecting to.

Father God, forgive me for being so pigheaded and stubborn, for pointing the finger when it’s me that needs to change. I can’t do it alone, but I don’t want next year to be like this year. I’ve learned so much and grown so much but I don’t want to stop here. I want bigger faith, bigger love, bigger miracles, bigger dreams and visions. I open myself up to change today. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Not everything in life comes in a nice neat package. There are things that life throws at us that are unexpected but let me give you a new perspective on the unexpected things of life.

Do you remember when Jesus was teaching the crowd of people and it got late in the day and He didn’t want to send them away without feeding them because they were in a very remote area. So he told the disciples to feed them. You can find the story in Matthew 14 but their first thought was that it would cost too much to feed so many.

When they brought Jesus the small fish dinner and He blessed it, it became more than enough to feed the crowd. There will always be tests in our lives but those tests are to challenge our faith. Not faith in our own resources, but faith in God and His Word. If Jesus said to do it, than you can be guaranteed that He has already made provision for it.

Stop looking at what you don’t have and start looking for what you do have, then offer it up to God. He said whatever you bless will be blessed and whatever you curse will be cursed so begin blessing your supply. You may need $1000 and only have $100, offer it up to God and ask Him to bless and multiply it, than do what He showed the disciples-give it out. What you collect after will fill up multiple baskets.

Without faith, it’s impossible to please God, so stop looking at your need and begin to ask God what to do with your seed. The answer to your situation is in your own hands, but until you get your eyes off your problem and on to God, you’ll never see it, you’ve exalted the problem over the problem solver.

Father, I offer up to you my seed. I believe that all things are possible with You. Thank You for growing my faith this year, faith in Your Word and Your promises. You are my healer, provider, protector, deliverer. I know that I can’t please you without faith and that my faith can grow, so grow my faith!  With every unexpected and unplanned situation I face, may I turn to You and ask Your blessing on what You’ve provided and trust You to take care of it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.