Return to Project Love

Dear Reader,

I don't know how to tell you what I really want to say.  As a writer, I want to share a piece of my heart with you through these words.  But I'm inadequate.  And I fall short so often.

Thus, I'll break the rules of writing and tell instead of show you what I want to say.

God is so very amazing.

When I have a stressful, busy day, His love still shines.  When I'm alone in a room of people who trample His Name, He is strong.  When I want to curl up and cry, to run away from the world and not let it see my weakness, He is my Tower of Protection.  He's the Friend who never leaves me.  He's the One who knows my heart and loves me just the same.

I'm always overwhelmed:  either by the world or by His beauty.

If I take my eyes off Jesus, I grow restless, scared, and broken.  Oh, but how wonderful it is when you,

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace."  - The Heavenly Vision by Helen H. Lemmel

I want to have heavenly vision.  I want to have an eternal perspective.  And I want to be constantly overwhelmed by His beauty.  But there's a problem:  I don't.

I fail more than I succeed.  I get impatient, frustrated, stressed.  The Christian life is supposed to be one of courage and strength.  Shouldn't we be like Joshua, David, Daniel, Esther, and all the others?  What did they have that we don't?  I know that there's more to life than the "christianity" that  many of us have.

And I want that.  I want more.

Christianity today seems to focus on the wrong areas.  We know what the Bible says, and we've already "asked Jesus into our hearts."  We expect Him to somehow bring us the fruit of the spirit and turn our lives into something epic.  And we think that if we do our part (go to church, read our Bibles, pray, etc.), then it's His job to give us the life we want.

And while there's some slight truth to these beliefs, we often fall short of what truly matters.

I've said this before, but it encompasses everything I want you to hear.

Christianity is not a religion.  It's a relationship.

 I want a stronger relationship with God.  I want Him to be my all.  I want to obey the greatest command in the Bible:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." - Deuteronomy 6:5

God said that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart.  (Jeremiah 29:13)

But what does that look like?  How can we love God with all?  How can we stop going through the motions and develop a true relationship with God?

I don't know.  I wish I could give you an answer and claim that I have this down.  But I don't.

That's why we're going to return to Project Love.  We're going to discover how to love God with every area of our life - not because we're supposed to but because we want to love Him more.  We're going to be open with each other and let go of distractions in order to gain so much more.

We saw a glimpse of this during the summer, but I want to dive in further to Project Love.  I have no clue where this will lead.  I don't know what to say to encourage you or even how we can attempt to do this.  Truthfully, in our own strength we can't do anything.  So let's turn our eyes upon Jesus and let Him sweep us away.

If you're willing to join me, here's how we can get started:

• Share your heart in the comments.  Let us grow together by discovering where you are and how we can be an encouragement to you.  Tell me how I can be praying for you.

• Take a minute to prayerfully answer the questions below.  This will help me know where to start.

• If you know someone who would be blessed by joining us, please invite them!  Become partners in this challenge, and encourage each other towards Jesus.

I love each and every one of you.  You've challenged me to go "further up and further in", to live radically, and to love others.  I'm so excited to press on together!

~♥~

Live a Life that Lasts

This week, a friend of a friend died.

He was young.  Some would say he had his whole life ahead of him.  But he didn't.   One day he woke up unresponsive, and the next he was gone.  No warning, no time to plan his last days.  He just left.

It didn't matter what he planned to do next week.  It didn't matter what achievements he wanted to reach.  Because it was all gone, a memory.  The only things that mattered were what he already did.

I don't often think of death.  The unknown is scary and dark.  I don't want to be a morbid person that always dwells in the bleak future.

But I think it's healthy to realize this:  we don't know if we have tomorrow.

The man who died thought he had time.  He probably had plans and dreams and hopes.  But they didn't matter.

Dear friends, make sure that your today counts.   Live in light of eternity.  Books, school, activities, life, nothing matters unless they're done for Him.  Live a life that lasts.

If you died tomorrow, would today matter?  Are you loving others and living for Christ?  Or do you let the days slip between your fingers?

This is a different post than most.  I wasn't planning on writing this, and I don't want to sound discouraging or dark.  Death, for Believers, is simply a step away from pain and into Jesus' presence.  It's a day of rejoicing because our mission is complete!  But as I remembered the short life we have, I wanted to remind you: eternity is all that matters.

I hope to restart our series on Project Love next week.   Until then, remember to be living for our Savior.  Live a life that lasts.

I'll end with a poem I wrote today.   I hope it inspires you to take a deeper look at life and seek to shine bright as daughters of the King.

Love,

    Hosanna

  

Only a Candle

The wick sinks low, silent flame quivers
one breath of air whispers through
and I am gone,
a memory.
no warmth, no light
continual stillness, life stolen by death.

What would my days have meant?
would someone miss me, shedding tears
longing for one last day together?
or would life go on,
birds still sing and sun still shine
life being lived without me?
another candle could be lit
to fill the void I left,
hours slipped between my fingers.

But as I rejoice in heaven
I hope that someone would sigh,
“this young girl drew me to Jesus’ arms,
and I have a reason to live.”

If only one heart was brightened
by the glow my fire had lit
it would be worth all
the pain, the tears
my life would have been well lived.

Yet still the sun is shining warm,
and birds sing in the trees
another day, a life to live
to laugh, to cling, to love.

A day is but a memory
‘til it becomes
something more.

"... be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." - Revelation 2:10b

Encouragement from our Savior

Dear Friend,

This month my calendar has a picture of a pink and violet sunset overlooking towering mountains.  A gentle meadow is surrounded by silhouetted pine trees.  In the grass, a deer is gazing into the expanse behind him.

But I noticed the tiny black letters that marked today, September 12, 2017.

National Day of Encouragement.

You all have been a wonderful source of encouragement to me.  From comments to emails,  shares and more, my day has been brightened by you.  Now it's my turn.  Imagine yourself in my calendar picture.  Feel the grass wisp against your ankles and smell the fresh, mountain breeze.  Watch as the deer turns his deep, brown eyes to stare into yours.

And read God's beautiful promises.  This encouragement is from Him to you.  These are His words as He declares His everlasting love for you, His child.

~♥~

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death...  - Song of Solomon 8:6

He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken. 

And it will be said in that day:
"Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the Lord;
We have waited for Him;
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  - Isaiah 25:8-9

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.  - Isaiah 26:3-4

In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.  - Isaiah 30:15

You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.   - Isaiah 30:19

...in the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people
And heals the stroke of their wound.  - Isaiah 30:26

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  - Isaiah 35:10

I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears...  - Isaiah 38:5

He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.  - Isaiah 40:11

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.  - Isaiah 40:28-31

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  - Isaiah 41:10

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
And I have loved you.  - Isaiah 43:2-4

"For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,"
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you...
No weapon formed against you shall prosper.  - Isaiah 54:10,17

...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So shall your God rejoice over you.  - Isaiah 62:5

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13

...yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.  - Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord your God in your midst,
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 singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17

...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; - Philippians 1:6

...for He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5

I encourage you to grab your own Bible and read 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 139.  Both chapters are beautiful reminders of how great His love is for us, and they have been a blessing to me time and time again.  I hope these verses bring warmth to your heart today.

Dear one, you are beautiful, treasured, and loved.  Don't forget that.  Jesus said,

As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love.  - John 15:9

Are there other verses that have touched your heart recently?  Please share them below; I would love to read them with you!

During this day of encouragement, step out.  Love others.  And make a difference.