Only Love Remains

 Only Love Remains

Scenes of you come rushing through
You are breaking me down
So break me into pieces
That will grow in the ground
I know that I deserve to die
For the murder in my heart
So be gentle with me Jesus
As you tear me apart

Please kill the liar
Kill the thief in me
You know that I am tired of their cruelty
Breathe into my spirit
Breathe into my veins
Until only love remains

You burn away the ropes that bind
And hold me to the earth
The fire only leaves behind whatever is of worth
I begin to see reality
For the first time in my life
I know that I'm a shadow
But I'm dancing in your light

Teach me to be humble
Call me from the grave
Show me how to walk with you upon the waves
Breathe into my spirit
Breathe into my veins
Until only love remains

A Prayer for Unity
By Emma Danzey

Colossians 3:14 says, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Hearing about the divisions, hatred, and evil in this world causes heartbreak and high anxiety. It stirs up anger and confusion and brings us to our knees over the sin in this world. As believers in Jesus, we are to seek unity through Christ. We do this by putting on love. Among our own churches and in the ways that we live, others will see the beauty and the oneness of the family of God, all are welcome to come.

Today’s verse emphasizes putting on love. In a culture that has much hate and hurtful actions toward one another, we can stand out for Christ in the ways that we love. This is not a love that comes from our own might, but the perfect love from the Spirit of God that pours out onto others. By the words and actions through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can show the perfect love of Jesus to this hurting and broken world.

Let's Pray:

Our Loving Savior,
We acknowledge today that we are incapable of perfectly loving others. It is only through the help of your Spirit that we can live in this way. You have sacrificed yourself for our sins when we were your enemies and you brought us into your family. We boldly ask that you would give us the kind of powerful compassion on those who are our enemies on this earth. We pray for those who persecute us, we pray for those who belittle and humiliate us, we pray for those who are living out sin and violently hurting the innocent. Lord, give us strength to model You even in these kinds of situations. 

Father, we mourn the evil, the hatred, the racism, and the divisions in this dark world. We mourn that even among our own body of believers that there is brokenness and separations due to sin. We ask that you would help us to be the example to those around us watching. We pray for reconciliation, for unity, for hearts that are humble, and for welcoming attitudes to invite others in. Where we have formed cliques because of personal preferences, remove them. Where we have outcasted people for their struggles, forgive us and help us know how to minister to them. Where we have pushed away from other cultures because of preferences, forgive us and enable us to be selfless for the sake of unity.

God would you help Your people to live like the believers in the early church. Acts 4:32 says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” Empower us to genuinely care for the needs of our brothers and sisters. Open our eyes to those You have placed around us to encourage and walk with in life. Help us to be selfless so that we can share what You have entrusted to us. Give us the ability to be one in heart and mind. The enemy is after the people of God and desires to divide and cause confusion, Jesus help us to be united in You. Help us to stand firm on the truth of Your gospel and be dedicated to Your Holy Word. Thank you for the victories that You are providing and will provide for us.Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Creator God, You have made all people in Your image. We pray against prejudices and against pride. Help us to see others as You do. Help us to remember that Jesus gives an even playing field to all. We are all sinners in need of a Savior and You have paid the cost. Give us your loving and caring attitude for those who are different from us, and help us find common ground at the cross. Help us to invite all people to hear the good news of salvation through Jesus alone.

We praise you and thank you for this gift of unity that You equip us and call us to. Amen.

6-22-22

 The 2% yogurt I made today didn't work. I believe the Lord told me to "wait" before trying again with whole milk. I believe he may want to change my heart about making it. 

Deny self - my plans, wants, dreams, desires - INSTEAD - Seek the Lord for His plans, wants, dreams, desires - Jesus' spirit living through me - HIS life. He is WORTHY and He is enough for me. I want to live like Jesus and everything in this world is like cheap trash compared to Him. 

I want to experience His beauty - for Him to speak to me through songs and touch my heart through the Holy Spirit. I want to be wholehearted. To fast and pray and experience more of Him.

Devo about running to God instead of hiding in shame - I did this the night after I talked to MP and I was ashamed bc it was so clearly not what the Lord wanted.

MERCY - Receiving mercy from Joy yesterday with not answering the text right away, mercy for anger towards Jack Heckscher client, mercy from Ahna for scratching her dutch oven after she had warned me, mercy from Jesus after He told me to guard my heart and I poured out my heart to MP. I have been forgiven! No shame! It's washed away!

It's a new day!

To embrace God's grace and mercy

A Prayer to Embrace God’s Grace and Mercy
By Tiffany Curtis

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” - Hebrews 4:15-16

Overall, I was a pretty good kid growing up (and yes, my parents would actually attest to that!). But on the occasions where I found myself in the wrong – whether on accident or not – my first instinct was to hide. 

A vivid memory remains in my mind of the time my sister went to see The Nutcracker ballet, and proudly brought home a large, fully wax, nutcracker candle souvenir. One night, as I sat at the foot of her bed admiring the nutcracker candle, I picked a little piece of wax away with my tiny fingernail. Before I knew it, I was sitting with a pile of wax shavings in front of me, and a very sad, very unrecognizable nutcracker in my hands. I was caught in the act, and there was no hiding what I had done.

There was no ill will in me destroying this treasured souvenir, and my parents knew this. But when it came time for me to take accountability for what I had done, that’s when I tried to hide. The evidence was, literally, all over my hands as I looked my parents in the eyes and told them it “wasn’t me” who did it. Oh, and by the way, my sister and I are their only children. You can imagine the smirks as my parents undoubtedly thought to themselves… “who else would have done it?” My shame overtook me and caused me to hide from my problems rather than confess and be free of them. Desperately trying to cover up and refuse to admit to it only made my shame, and the situation itself, so much worse.

We may blame Adam and Eve for disobeying God and allowing sin to enter the world, but I don’t think any of us blame them for hiding from Him afterward. They knew what they had done, and they knew that God knew. But their shame forced them to hide from Him. We’ve all felt that awful feeling of shame - knowing what’s done is done, and we cannot take it back no matter how remorseful we may be. We see our weaknesses as just that – weaknesses. And we hate to admit it when we give in to them.

Hebrews 15 tells us that Christ empathizes with our weaknesses. He gets it. He walked through the same temptations that we face, but our hope is found in this: He did not sin. And this was not done so that he could sit back and say, “Shame on you - if I can do it, anyone can!” No – He lived the perfect life so that His mercy and grace could be freely extended to us when we falter.

It is our job, then, to approach God’s throne with confidence. This isn’t always easy when we’re natural hiders! But God assures us that in our time of need, He is more than ready to help us. So, boldly embrace God’s grace and mercy today. Humbly accept His help. Rest in His empathy – He loves us and truly desires for us to let go of shame and live in His presence.

Let’s Pray:

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the grace and mercy you extend to us. Our sinful nature tells us to sit in our shame and to hide from your light. But you came to this earth and lived the perfect life so that we no longer need to be shackled by our sins. True freedom is found when we lay down our pride and bring our weaknesses to you. 

Thank you for walking through this sinful world. You understand how we are tempted because you were tempted as well, yet never sinned. Your empathy allows us to bring every worry, every fear, and every fault to your feet because we know that you understand. 

Help us to approach your throne with confidence because it is a throne of mercy. When we try to hide our sin and shame, remind us of your boundless grace. I pray that we would draw nearer to you no matter what we’re going through. Your Word promises that you will give us gracious help in our time of need – help us to believe that today!

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Keep your calendar in your car. I want to help you. You are not doing this list for me but with me. I want to guide your life Kristina. You don't call the shots, I do. This is for your good, your benefit. 

6-21-22

 Psalm 131 - Eyes are not proud / "the moment you humbled yourself before me, I heard you"

Psalm 119 - comfort in suffering - His Word / His promise 

Psalm 136 - his love endures forever

Prove it 6-15-22

 Prove it

I asked for forgiveness for not making time to do the things he asked me to do (3x5 notecards) and not spending more time with Him so now I am going to prove it by skipping getting dinner out and running and waiting to get the Panera Sips tomorrow, I am going to go home and work on dinner then spend that time with the Lord tonight.  He will meet with me when I make time for Him. 

June 15

When God measures a man, He puts the tape measure around his heart, not his head.

The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7     

Lord, what a joy that You do not see as man sees and that Your measuring is perfect.

Today 6-14-22

 Lord I'm sorry for being unloving and wanting others to love me instead of loving them

I'm sorry for wanting you for what you can give to me instead of for you

I'm sorry for not loving others for your sake

I'm sorry for trying to figure things out on my own instead of trusting you and worrying

Lord forgive me and help me to trust that you love me, the Abigail loves me and to be secure in you. Help me to love others from a place of knowing I am loved by you. Please help me to encourage others tonight Lord and to obey you.

I'm sorry for making "fun" a god. Help me to follow you. 

Deliberately rememeber

 When I was praying and asking God how to pray for the Abigail this morning you brought the phrase "BIND US TOGETHER IN LOVE" and the song by Laura Hackett "Love makes us strong"

https://youtu.be/gs7XZmMlrSA

love-makes-us-strong-laura-hackett-park.pdf (soarworship.com)

_________________________________________________________________________

Feedback from a client about bday card - showed me that people can be offended if not loved in the way they want it. Even though a person (Amanda) is sincerely trying to go above and beyond. It can feel defeating and like - why even try? - when someone is so easily offended. I can be like this with the Abigail when they try sincerely to love me and I am offended by things bc it isn't done the way I want. It's not that they aren't loving me it's that I'm not getting it to the way I want it and I'm OFFENDED because I am proud and conceited and making it all about me. Just like this client is offended that we sent them a bday card and it wasn't at the right address/not signed by an individual signature. It can seem ridiculous on the other end and make you feel like giving up. This is how I have treated my house. 

From: Sweetman Properties Group <sweetmanpropertiesgroup@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 9, 2022 7:39 PM
To: Steve King <sking@wqcorp.com>
Subject: birthday card

 

A very funny birthday card came to our house.

The card was to Patrick, would you believe nobody signed it.?

If that went to a different client they might have been upset about that.

Of course Patrick's in Argentina so we just told him you all wished him a happy b'day.

Just a note to help all businesses grow.

 

--

Paul Sweetman

Sweetman properties Group llc

(513) 383-1713 

From Amanda: Thanks for the feedback! I usually google a message and sign it from the Wealthquest team.  (I’m sure you’ve seen) Maybe your right. They don’t like “from your team at Wealthquest”?

___________________________________________________________________________

June 13

Sincerity is not guidance. Sincerity may say, “I am sure this plane goes to New York.” You believe this sincerely, but the plane will go to Miami if it is scheduled for Miami, and your sincerity will do nothing to change that!

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:12    

Father, we often sincerely believe we are doing right, even if we are wrong. Give us wisdom through Your Holy Spirit. Guide us so that we do Your will, not ours.

_____________________________________

Lord, I am sincere in this wrong belief but I am wrong. Help me to trust you and trust my sisters. Help me to overcome this accusation and offense and making things about me. Lord I repent! I'm overthinking this. I'm wrong. Praise God I'm wrong! My sisters love me. I am proud and offended. Please help me to be humble Lord. Give me the same mindset as Christ Jesus. 

Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Thank you that even though you see all my sin - you don't condemn me. You accept me and give me what Jesus did. This sin is not too big for you - you can help me overcome. You can right these relationships. You can purify me. You can help me. You are FAITHFUL. YOU are big enough. Lord Please help me today = this morning to overcome accusations in my thoughts Lord!!

Camping

 This is not my home!

' God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. ' Matthew 5:5

I want the best for you Kristina. Feeding on these cheaper things is just a delusion - a lie. I have greater things in store for you if you let me do it.

Lord what about the Abigail?

Have you been praying for them?

Sorta - mostly praying to repent of accusation towards them.

That is your answer. Pray for your sisters. Seek their best in the secret place and you will change from the inside out. I don't have judgement in store if you repent of your sins. No one can take you away from me. Not even these fractured relationships. Learn how to love from me - not a book. I want to teach you.

'And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

Do not even pagans do that? If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?

Are not even the tax collectors doing that? that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and

the unrighteous. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, '

Matt 5:44-47