One hundred and sixty eight...

One hundred and sixty eight...

It is very difficult as humans, to not only get past our self love enough to be willing to love others unselfishly but to also fathom the depth in which our God does love us.

Truly, within your heart of hearts, can you know the love of the creator?

Can you imagine loving your family your friends, your children, a billion times more than you do in this moment?

I don't believe we have the capacity on this earth, in this time, to fully understand a love that true… BUT to know that truth lives inside of us AND that we came from that very love…(Tears) my soul wants to break away from this body in awe.

His Word declares His love for us in more ways than we can count. Likewise, He asks for our love in return.

Again, in countless ways, we are called to exemplify our love for the Father in our obedience to righteousness.

But did you know that what His Word calls us to follow more than ANYTHING else in that glorious book is His commandments??

Makes perfect sense really. There's nothing that can occur in any circumstance, in any place or time that WON'T be under those ten simple commands.

Remember, grey isn't really a color ;)

So if we want to know the love of our creator in such a way that words and thought and time don't create limits or understanding, then WE MUST OBEY.

This. Is. Love.

Luke 10:27 - And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:12-14 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  

John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.


1 John 2:4-6 - He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Matthew 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Seems like the commandments are the way to the heart of God…

As a mother, my children know well that my repetitive narrative can only mean it must be very important.

He loves us so much you guys. If we only could see, feel, smell the love He truly has and what He desires from us FOR us.

One hundred and sixty eight...

The number of times His commandments are called before us in His Word.

Wake up.

1 John 4:19 - We love him, because he first loved us.

Xo

What is in a Name

How valuable is a name?

We hold names of all kinds in high regard. They identify who we are, they keep families family and at times our names can even define us.

Why do we hold such authority in a name? Where does that desire to identify, claim and depend on a foundation of sorts come from?

Certainly not from man. Although your earthly father would likely say otherwise.

The meaning of the word name in hebrew is all we need to know if we are wanting to see what is truly in a name.

It is quite possibly the most simple yet powerful definition...it means to mark.

The great I AM. The almighty God.

This is the beginning of a name. The only name. The name that would create the heavens and earth, you and I and would use the power of HIS name to save us...Jesus.

Psalm 37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

The Lord has shown the greatness of His name over and over throughout the old testament. He also gave His people knowledge of the coming of His power, in Christ.

Our Lord asked us to mark Jesus, to identify Him and to follow His holy name.

That we would know that He was God by His name! What a Beautiful sentiment it is that He not only gave His power to His children through the life of Christ but we also possess that power ourselves through the receiving of His Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:30

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

I do believe we underestimate the LORDS power. Jesus is quite literally God's power on earth. The creation of the mountains and seas to the stars and you and I, everything He created was done so of that power.

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

What a gift that is!! My heart sings with joy to know that our awesome Father has instilled within us the power to overcome evil with a call of His name!

Luke 10:17

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

We are soooo truly blessed to be loved by Him.

We are called to follow His commandments. To be righteous and selfless. We are to KNOW that when we call upon the NAME of the LORD, He does in fact move mountains for our good.

His name is so very sacred. Holy is the name of the LORD.

And we get to call Him Father.

So next time the name of the Father leaves your lips, know the power that He holds in you… And what will you choose to do with it...

Be well friends, God bless xo