Have you ever been in a situation in which the more of God’s love you offer, the more offensive you are? It can happen showing kindness to a wounded soul, or setting boundaries in a relationship. Some may react in anger, even accuse you of being a “bad Christian.” 

Or perhaps in your social circles or workplace, you may be one of few demonstrating principles in areas which the majority do not. Your integrity may seem strange or humorous. But friend, you are not alone. Through the ages, God’s people have persisted in demonstrating his love while held in contempt. 

Our ultimate example and comfort lies in that Jesus, although blameless himself, suffered to the point of death, for the sake of a world who rejected him (2 Corinthians 5:21). And I am not guilt-free either. I do not merit his forgiveness and lovingkindness. Yet I receive it. 

Therefore, I can choose love in all these matters.

These matters in which people do not understand and may even choose to blame. They only matter to the extent that I continue to live and love them through Jesus... because of his great love for me.

Is it always so simple and easy? No. Jesus’ love may be simple… but people and situations can be very complex. God’s word reminds us that in this world we will have troubles, but we take heart— because he has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Remember… this world is our temporary accommodation. It is not our permanent home. We are abiding in our home spiritually in Jesus now… until he comes for us eternally then.

We have each other and Jesus. What matters is that we can love everyone. Whether or not they also do.

In Christ’s love,
Esther

To chat about what matters to you: [email protected] 

Love. It’s a word that brings a lot of different thoughts and feelings to mind. There have been songs sung, movies made, poems penned, and words written to express the many emotions and definitions of love.
I’ve never known anyone who didn’t want to be loved by someone. Have you? It seems to be a basic need of all humans. Have you ever wondered why? I have. The Bible tells us we are made in God’s image. It also tells us that God is love. Could it be that something within us desires to give and also receive the very thing that describes God- His DNA of love?

The world doesn’t know God, so it searches for what it thinks is love- a feeling, attachment, attraction, or whatever can be dreamed up. But when we know God in a personal way, through His word and time with Him in prayer, we find that love is an action. Jesus came and gave up His life for us because of love.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God gave because He loved. We don’t have to wonder what love looks like or what actions describe it. God makes it clear in His word.

    “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
It takes knowing God to know love fully, and it takes God’s help to fully love.
Are you experiencing His love today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us with an everlasting love. Thank you for demonstrating your love for us by sending your Son, Jesus. Please help us live fully in the knowledge of that love and share it with others in a world that is searching for it. Amen.
In His love,
Charlotte             
Let’s continue the conversation- [email protected]

​My command is this, love each other as I have loved you. 
John 15:12

Never underestimate the reason God has your path cross with another’s. He has a reason for everything. 
When we ask God to direct our path, we have to accept the closed doors as His will also. 

When these things happen in our lives, we should be happy that we were able to give that person our love. We shouldn’t think about it in any other way. 
It’s the same with kindness, with honesty, and with our ability to care about people. 
Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them. 

In Paul’s great hymn in the Bible, he describes love as patient and kind. Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth.  

When in doubt about anything, go to God first. Trust the voice of the Holy Spirit. Allow His wisdom to be the filter in which you view all things. 

If we say we are His, we must follow the example of Christ. 

Blessings, 
~Jackie Wehr

Esther, Charlotte, Jackie and I have decided to change the name of our blog from “3 on Thursday” to “Freedom Writers” As we brainstormed thoughts on what it means to have freedom in Christ, we came up with these thoughts for you and for our future writings!

• Freedom - to live as people who are free (1 Peter 2:16)
• Truth – Jesus is the way, the Truth and the life (John 14:6)
• Grace – Undeserved favor to live in freedom (2 Corinthians 9:8)

A Book…
In the opening scene of Louisa May Alcott’s book Little Women, four teenage girls wake up on Christmas morning to find their table laden with food that starts them salivating.  You see, Dad is off fighting a war and Marmee (Mom) isn’t able to provide much beyond the necessities.  Waking up to find these treats has the girls giggling with excitement.  
A moment later, their faces drop when their mother tells them a story of a family close by who has no food, no fuel to keep warm and who are in need of some holiday cheer.  The girls quickly but reluctantly help pack up the food, fuel and a few extra blankets and march off through the snow…

A Scripture story…
There’s a story in the Bible of a young boy who surrenders his loaves of bread and fish to help Jesus feed a crowd of thousands.
What causes people to give when they would rather not?

Another book…
In his book Invitation to a Journey, M. Robert Mulholland Jr. states that “God purposes us into a particular kind of being – that we might be holy and blameless before God in love.” And that “The process of being formed in the image of Christ takes place primarily at the points of our unlikeness to Christ’s image.”  
To put it in every day context, every time I want my husband to hear “my side” but am not willing to hear his…every time I get easily frustrated when circumstances change my plans…every time I choose to be silent when God’s Spirit prompts me to speak…those are the places I am least like Christ.
What happened to the girls in the story?  They gave out of obedience and their mother’s example and their wealthy neighbor heard about their sacrifice and gave them a more lavish breakfast than they had given away.  What happened to the young boy who gave his loaves and fishes?  Jesus fed 5,000. 
So, for this month of love, let’s offer our breakfast to the plans of Our Father, because, like Pastor David says, “We can’t outgive God!”
With Much Love,
Christina
If you would like to connection or share your story, please contact me.

[email protected]