Love {A Sunday Devotional}

What about love?

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

~ John 13:34 ~

Today's verse tells us that we are to love others the way that Jesus loves us... Wow, talk about hard. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He knows that we will make mistakes, but he loves us through them. Jesus' love for us truly models what it means to put others above ourselves. Nothing that He did on earth was for Him, it was all for us. He came so that we could know Him, he died so that we could be forgiven.

How many times each day do we do things for us? All day long if you are like me. You study so that you can pass the test, or you do homework so that you don't get into trouble, or you watch a T.V. show that you like (even if your brother or sister doesn't). We eat lunch because we are hungry, we talk to our friend because we want to. Not that any of these things are bad, but what about doing things for others? What about loving those around us? Do you ever go and talk to someone just because Jesus loves them? Do you ever offer to help someone else with their homework? Do you ever help your brother or sister with their homework? There are many ways to show others that we love them.

Our outer beauty comes from our appearance. Our inner beauty comes from love. It comes from the love Christ has for us, and we need to let that love shine out to others.

Reflection: Do you love others the way that Jesus loves you? What have you done recently for someone else?

Application step: Get creative today and look for ways that you can show others that you love them.

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Updates on school: There is this boy that I have three of my classes with. Let's call him Sky. Since the beginning of school, I have been able to talk with him a lot about Jesus and what I believe. I've really enjoyed our conversations even though he can be really annoying sometimes! :P I think he enjoys talking with me too, and I'm really excited because I think I'm being a good influence on him. He comes from a broken home, and so I think he is drawn to me because I do not act like the other kids. I would love it if you guys would continue to pray for me, and for him. I can't wait to see what God is going to do with me this year!

Thanks for reading // Have a great day! :)

Made to Inspire #13

Have a great day! :)

The Autumn Woods

I walk along the lonely path

In the autumn woods

Alone

A wind starts up

And the leaves start to fall

Around me

I close my eyes

And let the breeze take me

It whispers of a great cold coming

Of snow and white and icy air

A time of hibernation and peace and quiet

I walk along the lonely path

Pulling my coat tighter around me

I do a little skip

And kick at the ground

And watch the leaves fly up

Then fall

Falling leaves

All around

I smile and fall with them

I lay on the ground in my bed of leaves

And watch the trees bend and sigh

Every now and then

Golden light passes through

And lights up the forest floor

The sun says good night

And trades places with the moon

And I sleep and dream of tomorrow

There is magic in the air tonight

Magic in the air

So I spread my wings and fly...

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<3 autumn is coming soon <3

Delight {A Sunday Devotional}

Where does your strength come from?

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ~

Boasting in our weaknesses in not something that comes natural to many of us. Delighting in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties sounds even weirder. Can you imagine rejoicing when you failed a  test, or when someone calls you name or spreads rumors about you? How about being happy about not understanding the math problem that your teacher wants you to solve? Does it sound silly yet?

Let's look at it a different way, when you fail a test can you rejoice in the fact that life doesn't revolve around one test score? Can you rejoice in the fact that the teacher is offering extra credit? Instead of focusing on the negative, look for the positive! So you failed a test, Jesus died for your sins! So your friend started a rumor about you, Jesus knows the truth, and His opinion is the one that really counts! So you don'r understand the math problem, God knows what direction he wants you to go in life, maybe it doesn't have anything to do with algebra.

When we are weak, then we are strong. When we acknowledge that we can't do it on our own, then we open the door for God to help us. His grace is enough for us.

Reflection: Do you look at the negative in situations, or do you delight in the positives?

Application step: Today when things don't go your way, look to God for your strength. Ask God to help you find the positive in the situation, and trust in His power.

Have a great day! :)

Made to Inspire #13

Have a beautiful day :)