lavishing in His l o v e.

Define love. Love is a word that has been easily taken for granted in today’s society. It seems as though love is being diminished.

For the believer, we can tell you otherwise.

Love is more that a feeling, however. Because we see how God was in the beginning, He is the One who created LOVE. We read in Genesis 1:1 “In the begining God…” and throughout the Scriptures we read upon God’s love toward’s His elect, His covenant people. In the book of John 3:16, we read “For God so loved, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.” God is LOVE. We come across love again in 1 Corinthians 13:3-8 ” Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

As believers of Jesus Christ, this is one of the most freeing feeling ever, that God’s loved has been poured into out hearts through what Jesus did. All the times that I have failed Him, He still loves me the same. When He sees me, the apple of His eye, He sees His Son, Jesus. There is nothing like being lost in love with Jesus Christ, lavishing in His love.

This entire week God kept taking me back to the Scriptures of what it is to show His love, to love unconditionally, to love sacrificially, to love one another. It was at no coincidence that I was able to have several discussions about this topic with some of my sister’s in Christ that it allowed me to re-examine my heart and for God to test it.

Open your Bibles to Deuteronomy 6, John 13, John 14, John 15 and 1 John. I want to take you to a few scriptures that God leaves to His followers on obeying a new commandment.

Deuteronomy 6:5-6 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.”

John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

John 14:21,23 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father; and I will love him and manifest Myself to him./ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

Read and meditate the following scriptures and see where you stand:

Now the book of 1 John tells us this as His little children the following:
1 John 3:1
1 John 16-19
1 John 4:7-18
1 John 5:1-4

Are we really loving like JESUS? Are we falling more in LOVE with Him each day? Are we loving God and loving people? Are we meeting people’s physical needs along with giving the Gospel? Are we loving other believers? Are we willing to love those that have wronged us? Are we displaying LOVE in a way that people can see JESUS?

Maybe it’s was time for a heart check. Even in how I treat others through my very own character. I had to re-examine my flaws. Yes, I have two sweet girls aka my Hialeah homegirls, holding me accountable in that area. Knowing the heaviness of my sin upon Jesus and my depravity, continues to remind me that I am nothing apart from Christ, I need Him everyday. Despite, me falling short each day, during my morning prayers, He gently whispers, “Esther, you are first loved by Me. Love others as I have first loved you.”

any-who, til next time! 🙂

in Christ, for God’s glory,
Esther Victoria

delight.

scenerio:

you give yourself the Christian label, you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in your life. You go to church every Sunday. You are involved in ministry, sometimes  drown in it, too. You go to Bible Studies and then when the week is over you just call it a day. We at times seek the approval of man instead of the approval of God.  Then you ask God for a breather and hang out with friends and forget to share with others what God has just showed you this week. This becomes the weekly routine and in the midst of all of that you wonder why you haven’t heard God’s voice, feel distant from God and your so called quiet time with God becomes more like the excuse of  “I just don’t have time anymore.” Then you try to challange yourself with God’s word and it only lasts a few days.  We become complacent in our walks with Christ and don’t realize about the  importance of having a relationship with Jesus in the first place: to delight in Him, to hunger and thirst for Him. to know Him more. He has opened our hearts in receiving His Son Jesus Christ and given us the Holy Spirit, whom intercedes for us.

Sadly, this is what complacency looks like when we get comfortable in our walks with Christ. Have we forgotten that being a follower of Jesus is a Monday through Sunday kind of lifestyle? You know 24/7 kinda deal. We easily get distracted with the little things and find satisfaction in other areas, yes even in ministry. We burn ourselves out, yet Jesus’ is still calling us to lay at His feet. To rest in His presence. I ask myself at times, because I too fall short –  Are we really living up to what the Bible has to say? Are we spending hours with God? in devotion to the Word and in Prayer? Are we listening to His voice? Are we investing the time He has given us in discipling others? Are we living out the command of Jesus where He states “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. . .” (Matthew 28:19-20)?

This past week was overwhelming. I am one to say that I bend my back for alot of people and sometimes I do it because it is an act of service and I get bombarded with not spending enough time with the Lord. Unfortunately an hour is not enough time for me. I want to know God for who He is. I desire to spend countless hours with my First Love! But nontheless, I saw God being glorified even in the mist of my trials. I was trying to open a door God was closing and was wondering why I couldn’t hear His voice. I was toooo busy concerned about the plans I was making rather than just being still on what He was doing for me. Furthermore, in the times of stillness, I had asked myself where are those young men and women that are going to live radically for Christ whom are outspoken and have no fear in reflecting His love amoung others? God calls us to have a personal relationship with Him, but He is to be shared among others and that is where community takes place. Are we delighting in JESUS daily?

Friday night I was able to hang out with some brothers and sister in Christ, people whom I call friends who are fearlessly in LOVE with Jesus and are eager to know Him more. one of them shared this verse with me and I want to share it with you all:

Luke 10:38-42

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Notice how Martha was distracted with much service. She was worried and troubled. Yet her sister Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet in stillness being in His presence. Yeah It was definately God reaching out to me Friday night.

but wait . . .

When Saturday came around, I was still troubled, felt a sense of lonilness and then out of no where, I thought of Psalm 37:4. I immediately sent all the girls on my phone with this:

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4 Jesus should be our hearts #1 desire. Are we living to know Him more?’

but  it gets better – I put on some worship and Jesus Culture – You are My Passion comes up and the lyrics read:

I’m alive to bring, glory to You, King.

God of victory, You are my passion.

It’s in the way your are, You don’t change at all.

Great and humble God, You are my passion.
My strength in life, is I am Yours.

 My soul delights because I am Yours.

 Your will on earth is all I’m living for.

 
Jesus I glorify. Jesus my love is Yours.

 You are my heart’s desire.

 I live to know You more.
Light that breaks the darkness, showing what true love is.

Always full of goodness, You are my passion.

You never do me wrong, the meekest man but strong.

The most perfect song, You are my passion.

yes read the lyrics again in BOLD. Are we really delighting in Jesus daily? Are we living to know Him more?

late on  Saturday night I heard a sermon by Louie Giglio on Waiting Here for You – although it seemed like it was more derived for the singles and being married one day – God turned the corner for me and showed me what it is to:

TRUST.DELIGHT.COMMIT.BE STILL.WAIT.

Psalm 37:1-7 read it. 🙂 then He lead me to this verse:

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

I ask you this what are the desires of your heart? Better yet, who is the desire of your heart? If it’s not Jesus, re-exam yourself.

are you treasuring Christ? Are you living in a manner upon the arrival  of our King?

Luke 12:34 – “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Are we publically sharing Jesus to those around us? Are we on FIRE for God? Use us today, O’ God, for Your Name, for Your Fame, for Your glory! Our lives belong to Christ! Galatians 2:20 says – ” I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I know live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

“The LORD your your God in your mist, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with signing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Live differently. erase complacency off your life style. Delight in Jesus and draw near to Him. Challange yourself. Display His glory as He sings over you! Spend hours with Jesus Christ as He prepares your heart to share His love with others outside the church walls. Disciple others. Hold them accountable. pray with others. Seek His will! know Him. Shine His LIGHT ❤

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8

in Christ, for God’s glory, Esther Victoria

as a mirror reflects.

Since I received Christ four years ago, the act of submission was crucial because it demonstrates an act of obedience. In Jesus’ obedience He submitted towards His Father in accomplishing the will of God for His name sake. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:8. All throughout the scriptures we read and see a painted picture of God glorifying His own Name. In the same way, our lives should be reflections of His glory. We should live in a manner that brings Him glory. We are to live differently- out of darkness and into His light! Being submissive brings God glory as well! Submission is an are where many of us don’t like to mention. Pride becomes a hindrance when we do not like to here counsel coming from others, but God can use others to speak directly to you. He is able!
As many of you know, my desire for global missions has been a longing desire since my first mission trip to Haiti in 2011. Sometimes I just want to pack up all my things and just go, but God calls us to discern, wait, and obey His voice. Today I read Proverbs 19:21,23 – ” There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel- that will stand. / The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.”
God is the One who determines the steps and I have to be willing to submit to that. Whatever He has in store for me, I must be humble and obey His voice. My prayer is that we all submit to His voice and His plan – to whatever will bring Him most glory. I pray for that kind of reflection.
I end with this verse found in Deuteronomy 30:20 – ” that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;…”

in Christ, Esther Victoria