Only YOUR love.... Keri Jobe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4moomovVA90

 

Dear God, “Only Your love” drives me to want everyone to experience You for themselves. I can describe Your love, but I can’t make them want to choose You for themselves. Father, I won’t stop reaching out to a lost world because of my love for You. I too was lost, but now I’m found. I am forever grateful You never give up on us! No trial or sorrow will ever stop me, Amen. All glory to You my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

I’ve never been to Niagara Falls. Someone whose been there described to me how beautiful it was. Even though I could picture it, it will never be as beautiful as actually experiencing it. Until we personally see and feel  the beauty of some things that God created, we will never get the full beauty until we experience it for ourselves.

 

Psalm 86:5 “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, ABOUNDING in love to ALL WHO CALL ON YOU.”….. You see, God is abounding in love and forgiveness. But it’s a personal choice to call out to Him. Where do we find mercy and grace? It’s found in Jesus. Only one of the criminals next to Jesus, dying on the cross,  found it before he took his last breath. He turned to Jesus and humbly cried out to Him. Jesus said to him… “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 33-43…… Which criminal are you? The arrogant one, or the one who recognized he needed a Savior.

 

Jeremiah 31: 3 “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” His love never changes. It’s the same yesterday, as it is today and tomorrow. He is constantly drawing us in by His unfailing kindness. Do you recognize it? It is an unchangeable part of His character. If it were not for His great love, none of us would stand a chance in the future life.

 

God is love. Until you actually choose to open up and experience it, until you possess it yourself, you will be left to wonder. One can describe to you how faithful God has been to them, and how they have experienced His forgiveness. But it’s a personal choice to feel it for yourself. God’s love and forgiveness is even more beautiful than anything we can fix our eyes on. Fix your eyes on Jesus, on the cross of forgiveness and grace. That is true beauty. Again, I can describe it to you, but you have to experience this one for yourself.

 

Lamentations 3: 22-24… I love this verse!! When I think of how I could have been left in my sin….. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fails. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.”

 

If you haven’t experienced His great love and forgiveness, and the freedom that comes with it, I pray you don’t wait another minute. Invite Him in your heart forever.

 

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Kim

 

 

 

My Story .... Big Daddy Weave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIHmYBKkGa8

 

Don’t miss the beauty of the lessons of Jesus, even if it hurts. You may not like how life is going for you. ( Hebrews 12: 1-2, 2 Timothy 4: 7, Acts 20:24)…. But if in the end is VICTORY over the enemy, wouldn’t you want to run the race to the finish line and one day hear: “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25: 23.

 

It may not be your story, but it is mine. But before I write of what I believe, let me begin by saying, it is the kindness of Jesus that drew me in. A love that never gave up on me. That He could love me, a sinner, and die for me, before I even chose to love Him. That blows my mind every time I think about it. He loved me IN MY SIN. So my whole story is of Jesus, and how only He can teach you unconditional love when you think you have no more to give. How can I not extend what was given to me. That’s when Jesus, if you allow Him, will show you just HOW MUCH HE LOVES those who are hard to keep loving. Our life purpose, is to be created in His image. What a different world this would be if mankind would just humble themselves to the King of Glory.

 

Yes, my husband was taken from me too soon. God knows I don’t have to like it, because I don’t. But I do LOVE how Michael’s story ended. In the last few years of His life, he was born again into a relationship with Jesus. Spending time with Him on a daily basis, not just on Sunday. Mike had NO FEAR of death when he knew it was coming. He always said, “we are all terminal, we just don’t know when that day is coming. So know Him who is going to carry you home.”

 

I praise my God for holding us strong in our marriage. Because there were times I wanted to give up. But God’s love for Michael in me never gave up. It’s when you pray a prayer to God, when you have just had enough, He rushes in on those precious words to His ear. I remember praying: “OK God, I can’t do this anymore! So if You want me to stay in this, then CHANGE ME.” Bingo! That was the words He was waiting to hear. “Change me, because “I” can’t do this anymore.” All glory to God for being used by Him, and for the choice my husband made in Jesus. One day I will see him again.

 

Mercy wins, because GRACE IS GREATER than all our sins!! The kindness, and the love of Jesus, drew my husband in too.

So this is my story, this is my song, and I will praise Jesus my whole life long!!!

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

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Kim

 

 

 

Say AMEN..... Finding Favor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfWaMVh4dZM

 

Do you really love God unconditionally?  I mean through the good, the bad, and the pain and suffering life can bring. This is love,  John 14:21
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." Yes it’s a personal thing between you and what Jesus is speaking to your heart. Not everyone’s story, and the purpose of which God is using you is the same. Follow through with Jesus in spite of your suffering and pain . He will show Himself to you.

Romans 8: 28-39…  This part of the scripture really speaks loud to me… “IN all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Not how we think life should be, but in the mess of things. Meditate on this scripture and see how the Holy Spirit speaks to you. You may not like it, but if you obey, and let NOTHING separate you from the love of Jesus Christ no matter what circumstance you may be in, you will be more than a conqueror, truly victorious! A life lived with no regrets because you know your purpose.

What valley are you in? Life wasn’t meant to live only with the mountain views. The image of Christ in us, our hope, our faith, our trust in Him, is experienced and made in us in the valley.

 

Life, and the promises Jesus says in His word, I believe by faith. When He tells me in His word that He has gone to prepare a place for me. That He will one day take me to that place. I believe it by faith, John 14: 3. It is the most comforting truth in the middle of any pain or sorrow you may be facing. But the sorrow is only a temporary shadow in the valley of death, Psalm 23: 4. So I “Say Amen.” Thank You Jesus. You are faithful!

 

1 Corinthians 15: 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death is your sting?” Death is swallowed up in VICTORY! Do you believe this? Do you believe Jesus overcame the grave?

 

I’ve seen the faithfulness of God. Even if I didn’t like how it ended for me here on earth. At least my husband has heaven. For better, for worse, in sickness, and in health. We have been through it all. My husband has had cancer twice. Once he received a miracle of healing after a long battle. Seven years free and given back a wonderful quality of life. After that, cancer came again. This time with a rapid vengeance. The only difference this time, was my husband had given his heart to Jesus 2 years prior to receiving this devastating news. He had peace in this storm, and hope for tomorrow. His tomorrow wasn’t to have more years here with us. His tomorrow is forever. Revelations 21: 4, no more tears, sickness, or pain.

 

For me here, God is renewing my strength daily. By reminding me of all He has done, and how I’ve seen Him move in our lives. In time I will be able to say, “it is well with my soul.”

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Valley-Devotionals/508413785852066

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Kim

 

Through all of it..... Colton Dixon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91KliTa1ksY

 

I’ve seen miracles that God can do. In my life, and the people I love. He truly is the God of the impossible. But we have to come to realize that life is according to His will, and His plan, not ours, as painful as that may be. If you look carefully at Who God is rather than your circumstance, you will see that He is a loving and compassionate God. He graciously covers us with His compassion. Isaiah 30: 18 … “the Lord longs to be gracious to you… He will rise up to show you compassion.”

 

Many of us can relate to the verses in the song…… “I’ve seen joy and I’ve seen regret”…. But has God been your God through all of it?

 

I can honestly say, no…. and that is the worst feeling in the world. It feels like death when you are in a situation in your life where you have no control !! But that was when I didn’t have Jesus Christ as my Savior. I only knew of Him in religion, BIG DIFFERENCE!! Religion is what causes war. It always has, and always will. It is a title, a label with no heartfelt  feeling. This is the best way I can describe it in my opinion. A relationship has feeling. There is a heart behind it. You will never find in all your relationships, one like Jesus. That is what He is about, not what religion you are, but if you have a relationship with Him.

 

When painful situations in life rise up, God is drawing you near to Him. I mean, if life is going perfect, why would you even think you needed Him. Usually in tough painful situations, that’s when a lot of people turn away rather than turn to Him. They say things like, “If God is so loving, why is this happening?” This is a world of good and evil. Choices people make that will either make it pleasant to live, or miserable. That is not God’s fault. Remember, this loving God gave us all free will. Free to choose how to live while we are here. This is not home!

 

There are few people that I have what I call, a great relationships with. I mean the kind of people you could count on to help you in your time of need no matter what time of the day it is. When they say they are there for you, they really are. When they say they are praying, they really are. I don’t know what I would do without this type of earthly relationship.

 

That is my relationship with Jesus, anytime, anywhere. It is Who He is. More constant than the stars up in the sky. All these years, all my life. I look back and I see Him, and I still do, and I always will.

 

Life truly is a journey into eternity. You’ll see joy and you’ll see regret. But I pray He’s your God “Through all of it.”

 

 

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Kim