First Love

"So, beloved, if we live near to Christ, we cannot help loving him: the heart that is near Jesus must be full of his love. But when we live days and weeks and months without personal intercourse, without real fellowship, how can we maintain love towards a stranger? He must be a friend, and we must stick close to him, as he sticks close to us—closer than a brother; or else, we shall never have our first love."

I just finished listening to this sermon by C.H. Spurgeon this morning on the Declension From First Love. The message is based on Revelation 2:4 where Paul is speaking to the church at Ephesus. The Ephesians had seemingly everything in order in their church, but they were missing something important - they had left their First Love.

Brothers and Sisters, if you are suffering today, perhaps it is that you have lost your first love. Maybe your walk is well seasoned but your passion for God has dissipated. Or perhaps you are a young Christian and you are still blossoming - the fire has not gone out but is burning brightly. We must remember that it is bound to happen to all of us that the fire will go out for a time. The points that Spurgeon makes here are helpful in guarding against that likelihood of letting your First Love slip away from your hearts and minds and also in getting your First Love back.

There are so many points I want to make here, but I'm afraid I'd go into too much detail and then prevent you from actually listening to the message which is given much better than I ever could (possibly because I'm not intended to)! So I will end my portion here and allow you to move forth and fill your cup with spiritual goodness.

So here it is:

"Declension From First Love"
C.H. Spurgeon

L.O.V.E.

God's love is perfected in us if we love because he loved... [1 John 4:7-12]

This love (agape) is not the love that we as humans are capable of producing on our own based on feelings/emotions. This love is a selfless love - a love that we may only receive from God. A love poured out through us, given us by the Holy Spirit. It is a sacrificial love. A love that gives without expectation. A love that gives unconditionally. It is through this love that we love one another as Christ loved us.

The perfect example of this kind of love was acted out when He sent his Son to die on the cross for undeserving sinners (us!) to provide eternal life through the ultimate sacrifice.

"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

So with that being said... let us LOVE!

(It is so exciting to be able to understand these things!!!! OK, This is the end of my thought process for it is late. It is bedtime now... Goodnight my nonexistent readers!)

Puzzles and Cups

I am often amazed at God's timing of things and how he brings about little pieces of wisdom to fill our personal puzzles with.

I continue to be thankful for the fact that I am able to serve a God who is not only gracious but loves to see us happy and bless us.

Today, my cup is full.

"For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the work of your hands I sing for joy." Psalm 92:4

What A Savior!

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolation cheers my soul." Psalm 94:19

I am so thankful for God's mercy and grace, and the joy he fills me with even amidst the most pugnacious of trials. Thank you, God, for all you do - for never leaving or forsaking your children.

Words by Jim Elliot

"O Lord, against this bosom blast
of coiled and seething feelings.
Batt'ring passions, ebbing yearnings,
oozing ache of inner man,
Raise Thou the flinty walls of stuff of
which Thy Son was made,
Yea, build in me the buttressed
bastions of faith.
That shall resist the undersucking flow
of soulish tide,
And make me to endure this late attack.
I pray, in Jesus' name."

Written by Jim Elliot.
Taken from Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot.

New Perspective

It is funny how we can read things (scriptures, stories, books...) over and over again and each time we read it we get something new out of it. I read an article today and it hit me in a different way than ever before. It was much needed considering a recent development in my life.

Reading this article and grabbing something new from it made me think of how much I love tjat God brings things into perspective at the perfect time. One can read the same passage over and over again and perhaps get something out of it (but not everything), or maybe nothing at all.. But then comes a point in our lives when a lesson is needed to be taught or when we really need to be reminded of the love that Christ has for us and how we are not ever alone with Him and God then points something huge out. He is so good. How can anyone ever doubt Him?!

Alright. I just have to say...

Spring Sensations tea is not springy, nor is it sensational. It is in fact sedative. Don't drink it if you are looking for energy!