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There is Hope Because God Loves Me

There is Hope Because God Loves Me

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Have you ever experienced something that completely transformed your life?

The tall, clumsy-looking Bible Instructor walked into the sanctuary and plumped down two seats ahead of me. Several other Bible Instructors arrived afterward and took their seats. I eyed each of them, wondering which one I would spend the next six weeks walking the streets of Baltimore with. "Better not be that clumsy looking fellow," I thought. After a short briefing, it was time to choose a partner and get to work. The tall clumsy guy looked at me. "I want you to be my partner," he said. I wanted to look away but knew that would be rude. "My name is Kevin, by the way". 

Kevin turned out to be the opposite, in many cases, of what I expected. He covered more ground than anyone else on the team and was more knowledgeable and skilled in presenting the gospel than anyone else I had met. 

The thing that impressed me the most, though, was the confidence and passion with which Kevin spoke about the love of God. As Kevin presented God's love from the scriptures, I had a sense of God's love - and the value that God placed on me, that I never had before. I recognized that many of the bad choices I'd made were because of not recognizing my true value. 

2015 became a very significant year for me. It was the year I experienced God's love in a way that changed my perspective forever.

The word love means so many different things today; so much so that we often don't know what one means when they say “I love you”.

The love God wants you to know is different. In talking about God's love, we want to start with the person Himself. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8,16.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

We can only experience life-changing love when we accept God into our lives. He is love.

This is What God is Like

1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us what true love looks like, which is what God is like. Compare this list with what is typical in the world today.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends

If what we learn about God's love from those verses doesn't amaze you, the following reality should: This type of love is not shown to deserving people, but to un-deserving ones.

What four groups of people does Romans 5:6-10 point out that Christ died for? 

“for when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. for scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die; but God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life.

The passage points out that Christ died for:

  1. The weak
  2. The ungodly
  3. Sinners
  4. His enemies

Activities

REFLECT: What does it mean to you that God's love extends to all these types of people?

PRAY: that God will help you receive His love and allow Him to love others through you;

DO:

  1. Share with someone today how you feel about God's love for you. 
  2. Invite someone to learn about God's amazing love today.

Daily Health Renewal

Cleansing The Temple, Day 1-2**

Eliminate

Eliminate All Red Meat (Pork, Beef, and Lamb)

 

**See precautions

.

Substitutes

Chicken, Turkey, Fish, Beans, Meat Substitutes

 

**See precautions

.

Precautions

SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN THIS OR ANY FAST ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE ANY ILLNESS OR CONDITION WITH NUTRITIONAL IMPLICATIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, HEART, LIVER, OR KIDNEY DISEASE.

Spiritual & Health Renewal Fast Options

Spiritual & Health Renewal Fast Options

Besides the RENEWAL HEALTH PLAN FOR MEAT EATERS, there are other fast options to choose from: You will want to consider any needs you have based on medications and personal preferences. 

We encourage you to read the complete Daniel Fast Guidelines.

Option 1 - The Daniel Fast (Google it)

Option Custom - You designate the foods/activities you abstain from

You select the length of your fast. It may be as little as 6 hours or as much as 24 hours. 

Results: Healthier lifestyle choices help each of us to be more constructive, impactful workers for God as we move away from negative habits, i.e., overeating, impulsive eating, addictions, lack of exercise.  Our bodies will feel better, we will look better and our attitudes will be more pleasant. 

The option you choose should serve as a catalyst for living a more divine life and becoming an instrument for God. Pray and ask God to help you stick to your desire/decision to Fast. Whenever you are tempted - and you will be tempted - lift a prayer to God and walk on in Faith!

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Lesson 1: God Loves Me

God’s word has come to man to reveal the true meaning of the word we call love. The love God wants you to know is a...

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21 Days of Prayer

The storms of this life often threatens to overflow and overwhelm us; but in God's Word we find reasons to keep swimming; keep striving; keep pressing and holding on. In this series we explore 21 reasons why we can have hope, even in a world, or personal experience, that feels hopeless. 

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