Posts Tagged "Jesus"

Love That Grounds

Posted by Lori Freeland on Apr 3, 2013 in Christian living, Featured, The Blog | 2 comments

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Love.

A powerful word. An even more powerful emotion. Love can hurt. Love can heal. It all depends who wields it.

Imperfect. Distracted. Selfish. Those words describe me. Those words describe my love. I try. And sometimes I succeed. Often, I do not. I am not a great wielder of love. Just ask my husband and my kids.

But God is an amazing wielder of love. The only place I can find perfect love is when I look at Him.

I cannot stand under the power and magnitude of His love. Cliché or not—the fact that He directs His love toward me blows me away every time. Because I don’t deserve such affection. 

No matter where I am in my life, in a good place or in a bad place, He loves me.

He gave Himself for me and when I accept that kind of love, He  works in and through me, perfecting the way I share love with those around me.

There are times when I don’t feel Him near. Those are the hours or days or months I choose to walk forward in faith and remember His words–I am rooted and established in love.  My trust isn’t about what I feel, it’s about what I know.

I don’t need to wonder or guess how much He loves me. I am grounded in Him. He wanted me first. Before I even knew of His existence. His love is a promise. Not something to be earned. Not something to strive toward. Not something bartered, or stolen, or begged. His love is guaranteed.

In my bad moments, I lean on that love and bask in who God made me to be. In my best moments, I  fall against Him and love those around me in His strength and perfection, grateful I’m not on my own. 

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for loving us. For caring enough to make us part of Your family. In every situation, in every moment, remind us we are loved.

Read More

Your Name

Posted by Lori Freeland on Mar 18, 2012 in Christian living, The Blog | 10 comments

Eighteen years ago, my husband and I each scribbled two names on ripped pieces of a receipt, and stuck them in a baseball cap. Pat shook them up and I drew one out.

I opened the folded paper and frowned. “Not the right one.”

“Best of three.” Pat suggested.

After two more draws, I changed it to the best of five.

He agreed even though his top choice had made best of three.

The wrinkled paper that turned out to be best out of five read Kyle.

How Do I Know I’m Worthy?

Posted by Lori Freeland on Feb 28, 2012 in Christian living, The Blog | 17 comments

Can I ever know for sure, deep down in that private vulnerable place in my heart—the one I keep hidden from everyone—that I am worthy?

Worthy of someone’s love and attention? Worthy of their time and emotional investment? Worthy of forgiveness when I fail time and time again?

How hard do I have to work, making myself over again and again, to deserve any of that?