Love is one of the most complicated and yet so simple parts of this life. But, love above all is what allows us to have life. It's what Jesus showed us on the Cross. It's what each of our hearts yearns for. It's what God teaches us to do. It's what the Gospel is. It's who God is (1 John 4:8). C.S. Lewis writes this out simply, To love is to be vulnerable. What Jesus showed us on the Cross was vulnerability. Was Him coming down to Earth and making himself a Servant because He loved us. When Jesus entered the World, He was born a humble baby, to the poorest people, in the lowliest way. Loving vulnerably is saying, "I'm going to put my needs before yours. I'm going to love you because I get to. I'm going to love you because Christ loved me. I'm going to be humble and small and put you before me." Put others needs before yours. Love like Christ. And, even though He is the only one who can love like this, keep asking Him to help you keep loving. Keep praying. Trust Him. HAPPY 2018, READERS! HERE'S TO THE FIRST OF MANY POSTS THIS YEAR.The Earth circles around the Sun, day and night, night and day. We rely on the Sun for life to flourish in abundance. The Sun has allowed light to gleam throughout the Earth, and brought food and vegetation in abundance. The beauty and wonder of this amazing part of Creation has since become a provoker of thoughts and ideas. C.S. Lewis, author to multiple books, including The Chronicles of Narnia, explains this perfectly. He writes, I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. SEEING EVERYTHING ELSEWithout the Sun, we would be shrouded in darkness, engulfed in the gloom. The Sun enables us to see everything. But this is simply an earthly example. What C.S. Lewis is really getting to is that we could see the Gospel, know that God has intricately and miraculously created us, yet not acknowledge and leave it sitting there, like treasure left buried. Instead, through the Gospel, we see everything else. Our views are changed, the point of our lives is changed forever. We are given newfound hope of the purpose for our lives. We are given strength through Him to face difficulty. MY PRAYER FOR YOUMy prayer for you today is that, no matter where you are in life, whatever circumstances you might find yourself in, you might not just know that God loves you and cares for you so much so He died for you, but live it out. Let the Gospel change everything - how you live, your worldview, what books you read, what you do after-school, what music you listen to, how you spend your money... everything...
...because This Changes Everything. Autumn has finally arrived. That means that instead of bright sunny days, and a gentle breeze, rain seems to pour down like hailstones, with a harsh chill. Just like how the season change, so can circumstances. At first, it can be a lovely day, nearly perfect in every way, but the next day it could be dreadful, overcome in shame, darkness, and troubles. But it's in these hardships, when our character is built. When we show our real selves, who we really are, and shine how much we love and trust God through every toil. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but it is about learning to dance in the rain." -Vivian Greene We can never run away from hardships. In a sinful world, troubles are going to sneak up on us, hoping to steal away our joy in the Gospel. Instead of curling up in a little ball of misery, through the hope the Gospel gives us, we can dance in the rain. We don't have to let negativity and fear overrule us, but stand strong. BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT?Talk to God. Read His Word. And through the difficulty, He will help you to find joy, and must up the courage it takes to dance in the rain.
He will give you renewed hope, and joy. |
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MEET HANNAHWelcome to this wee corner of the internet! I'm Hannah; snail mail aficionado, paper enthusiast and child of God. Join me on this adventure! ARCHIVES
April 2018
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