A Love Like No Other

How we view love may be different than what love actually is. Love defined by God has no limits. It gives no reason to hold back and always hopes for the best. Our love may be the opposite to God's love in that we need a reason to love and there are limits to how much we are willing to open ourselves to love. However, there is a love like no other.

My year in marriage has taught me to see God's love as a love like no other. 

I had many reasons to be angry at my husband and to think bad of him. I wanted to forgive him, but in the midst of my emotions, I couldn't. 

This caused me to spend time with Jesus and ask Him to help me love my husband as He himself would love my husband. At that very moment, God gave me eyes to see my husband's heart. 

I no longer saw my husband as "not loving, caring, or trustworthy", but saw his intention to love me. What touched me more was that in the midst of God showing me this, He reminded me that this is His love for us. 

He doesn't keep a record of wrongs nor focuses on our wrongdoings, but looks for the best in us. His love is so deep that not even the worst of the worst could escape His love. After this revelation, I was able to forgive my husband and truly love him as God loves him. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says, "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."

We can easily hold up past offenses as an excuse to not forgive or love, but we must realize that if we want to love like God loves, there is no reason for us to hold back in extending love.

God says love is "not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrongs". This means we have no excuse of being easily angered or holding back past mistakes. He says love "always trusts and hopes" which means we should always hope for the best in others. 

As we experience God's love and mercy, we will become filled to live out the fullness of God - to love as he loves. 

Ephesians 3:17-19 says, "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."

As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus, let us remember His love which is like no other. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

God sent Jesus to come as flesh to die and suffer what we deserved. God raised Him up alive to become our savior so that we could be with Him for eternity. 

God sent Jesus to be our savior and to love us like no other. Luke 2:11 says, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." 

Jesus was willing to suffer for our mistakes and save us when we didn't deserve it. 

Jesus was willing to hope for the best in us before we could ever prove ourselves. 

Jesus was willing to trust us with his assignments when there are many reasons for him not to. 

Jesus was willing to love us when we were unlovable. 

His love is like no other. 

God's love knows no bounds - it is so deep and has no end. Will you receive His love and let it overflow into your life and others? 

God created us Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Through Christ, we are empowered to live the life of true love. Accept His love and live it out. So remember, there is a love like no other. 

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His Grace Is Enough To Get The Work Done

We all hold many roles in our lives; to be a parent, a spouse, a friend, a worker, a student, God's servant, and the list could go on. How do we do everything that God has called us to do in this season? The answer is through God's grace. His Grace Is Enough To Get The Work Done.

Despite having a productive day, there's always something that I still have to do on my to-do list. It can almost seem that my to-do list has an endless list of things to do. The question of "are you done?" will always be a no for me. There's always something to do.

Can you relate? 

I thought leaving my full-time job would give me more free time for other things, but I quickly filled that time up with other things that God has called me to do. God has recently opened the door for me to lead Bible studies for Human trafficking victims with Samaritan Village. While I love ministering to the women, I started dreading the assignment because I was too overwhelmed with the other 10 things I have to manage weekly.

God spoke to me at that moment and said, "My grace abounds over every task that I have assigned you to."

I realized that I was looking to my own strength which caused me to stress and question my ability to do all the tasks that were required of me. But at that moment I was reminded that it's through God's strength and not my own strength that I can do what needs to be done.

God's grace is enough to get the work done. 

Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember who is with you and who has called you to do the task. If God has called you to do the task, He will empower you to complete it. There may be times when we put more on our plate than what God wants, but then there are times when God will give us the grace to do more than we ever thought we could.

Bring the assignments that worry you and invite God's voice to speak over your life. If He is speaking encouragement and comfort to you and you fill peace and ease to do the assignment, then know that you can do it. If there is any conviction that you are trying to force your agenda and timeline, then know that God may want you to save that assignment for another time.

God gives grace for what needs to be done. We have to identify assignments that are for this season and which ones are for a later season.

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts". He has given us His peace to guide us in the right paths. When we are one with God, we don't have to worry if we are doing what is right or what is wrong. His peace will rule in our hearts and guide us. His desires become our desires, and His thoughts become our thoughts.

Paul from the Bible had a lot that He had to manage, but He always allowed the Holy Spirit to lead Him. Acts 16 talks about the time when Paul wanted to go to Asia but the Holy Spirit prohibited him from going there. Later he receives a vision of a man from Macedonia calling on him to come. He then goes to Macedonia and we see God opening Lydia's heart to receive the gospel from Paul's preaching.

You would think things get easy, but Paul and Silas end up getting into prison. They do end up getting out but you can see from this one assignment that they needed God's grace to complete their assignment.

You may be in a place where you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to be done. Maybe you are in a place where you're facing hardships and roadblocks like what Paul experienced. If you know that it is God who has called you to the assignment, persevere and know that you will come out victorious.

Through God's grace, Paul was able to build many churches and spread the gospel beyond what his own capability.

Philippians 2:13 reminds us, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

I have at times looked back at what I was able to accomplish and have always been in shock at how much was done. It shows me that only through God's grace that so much was ale to get done. His grace empowers us to do more than what we could ever do alone. Even in the midst of our weaknesses, His strength becomes enough (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We are entering into a season of acceleration where doors will be opened like never before and divine connections will align us to our God-given purpose. He will bring us the right people and resources to bring His vision to fruition. So remember, His grace is enough to get the work done.

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"God is inviting the body of Christ to ride the wave of revival and acceleration that He is bringing in this season. Doors will be opened like never before and divine connections will align us to our God-given purpose. Like a surfer, we must stand firm, not wavering in our faith so that the waves don’t crash over us."

You Are Loved

We all crave for validation. It can be easy to work our way up to be valued and loved by others, however, Jesus reminds us that we are loved because of who we are and not what we have done. You have the ability to walk in the full potential that Christ has for you when you understand that you are loved.

I recently received confirmation from God that my husband and I would be going to California for a conference. I heard him give His yes and His peace also filled my heart. I told God I would only go if I could also get a conference ticket for my husband to go. Minutes went by and we found out that my husband would be able to go as well.

I sat in my room in bewilderment.

Questions started running in my mind like, "Are you sure God? You're really letting us go to California?"

With all the signs and confirmation that God gave, I still found myself questioning God. I didn't feel like I deserved to go to California. This year God had blessed us where we were able to go to Chicago, Singapore, Japan, and now California. I told God, "I don't think I deserve this."

At that moment God said, "Why, you are my child."

Those few words that God spoke moved powerfully in my heart. I was reminded that children don't receive what they deserve, but they receive because they are loved. Our parents don't raise us up because we deserve to be loved, but because they love us.

God was reminding me that He blesses His children because He loves them. He calls us His children because He simply loves us - not because of our works or how good we are, but because He loves us.
We never have to think that we don't deserve an opportunity or that we don't have value. God calls us His children.

There is a condition in order to be His children and that is accepting Jesus into our lives and allowing Him to transform us. John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

We need to remember that God first loved us. Romans 5:8 reminds us, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This means that we never have to strive for our own validation. We don't have to prove our worth to God or others. God calls us worthy to be loved which is why He sent Jesus to die and redeem us.

We see throughout the Bible that God chooses people before they could even prove themselves worthy for the work. God doesn't see us for what we can do because we can only do all things through Christ. God has chosen and called us because of who we are in Him.

Hebrews 13:21 says, "May God equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever." We are equipped to do the work God has called us to do because of who Christ is in us.

Don't entertain the lies of the enemy that say you're not good enough, that you need to look a certain way, or that you need to accomplish certain things to be counted as valuable. You are valuable and loved because you are God's child, His very creation.

God says in Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart for a special work." God made us with purpose before we were even born, so why do we have to prove ourselves when God already created us with purpose?

This is the season to step into our God-given purpose and move forward in our identity as a child of God.

What does it mean to be a child of God? It means that all our shame and mistakes are wiped away (Romans 8:1), all anxiety and fear no longer have room in our hearts (2 Timothy 1:7), we have access to the inheritance and riches of God (Galatians 4:7), and we get to spend eternal life with God (John 3:16).

Nothing can separate God's love for us. Romans 8:38-39 says, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love... nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Have you been seeking approval and worth by your works? 

God calls us to work from a place of success and not for success. When we work from a place of love, our works will be fruitful where people can taste and see God's love. Jesus reminds us in John 15 that apart from Him we will bear no fruit. This means we must remain in His love and know our identity as a child of God.

God has mighty plans for you. He longs for you to run the race with love and to share His love with others. So remember, you are loved.

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Resting Upon Jesus

It can seem impossible to live without stress with the everyday demands of life. Life seems to always give us a reason to stress, but the truth is we can live without stress and that comes from a place of resting upon Jesus.

I never knew that stress could cause body aches until I experienced it myself. At first, I thought I was getting hit with sickness or an attack from the enemy. But I remember in the moment of prayer, I heard God say, "release all tension to me.” I realized that I had been pondering many things that had to be done for the week and carrying the burden of the results that had to be made.  

So much was on my mind, from finances that had to be built, strategies that had to be created, and other things that had to be done. I was carrying the burden of the things that had to be done in my own strength. 

I was led to Isaiah 26:3 which says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” The word steadfast means to rest upon. As I read this verse, I was reminded that I needed to rest the results of my work upon Jesus. 

Perfect peace comes when we trust our works and plans in the hands of Jesus. The only way to truly come to a place of rest is when we trust Jesus. We must trust that His intentions for us are good. We must trust in His ability to do for us what needs to be done. It's easy to say that we trust Jesus, but do we really believe that He is for our good and will lead us to success? 

Although I professed that I trusted in Jesus, my stressing told me otherwise. I had to remind myself that I have an almighty God on my side. I am co-laboring with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the maker of heaven and earth, what do I have to fear? Psalm 121:2 reminds us, "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

God gave me an analogy that just as we find relief when we have partnered with the smartest kid in class for a project, we can also rest knowing that we have an almighty God on our side. 

It wasn't bad that I was thinking of the things that had to be done, but it was when I started putting the burden of the results on my own shoulders that caused me to stress. I had to remember that Jesus is responsible for the results. 

We have our part to do, but leave the results in God's hands. As long as we focus on being faithful with what God has given us, we can trust that He will take care of the rest. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

We can give God our worries and fears because He cares for us. If God cares for us, why do we need to spend another minute worrying about our lives? 

Stress is caused by the worry of failure. We don't need to worry about failure when we leave our situations in God's hand. God cares for us and always has the best in store for us. Our lives won't always look the way we want it to, but we can always trust that the end result will always be for our good. 

God is looking for those who are willing to walk faithfully with Him. Psalm 101:6 says, "My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me."

If we are walking rightly with God, we don't have to stress about our lives. Psalm 91:1 says, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Those who dwell and walk with God will rest in His safety and care. 

God desires for us to walk with peace, joy, rest, and love. Stress only pulls us away from who God is. Philippians 4:7 reminds us that God is a God of peace. If we don't have peace in our hearts, then it is clear that we gave given in to stress. Don't give in to stress, but give in to Jesus. 

Have you allowed stress to rest in your heart? Will you give your burdens to Jesus and move forward in peace and rest? 

Jesus is inviting you to come to Him. He promises to give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Spend time in His word and presence and invite Him to speak into your situation. You will find His words of assurance to guard your heart. God sees and knows all that you need. Trust in His ability to help you. So remember, rest upon Jesus. 

Living Set Free

We all want to be set free from negative self-talk, anxiety, lustful desires, emotional instability, and more. Maybe you have tried everything you can but certain thoughts still hold you captive. The truth is we can walk in freedom where such things no longer take hold of us. We can live set free in Jesus.

I have struggled with many things, but anxiety seems to still find it's a way to creep in now and then.

There would be moments when I would give in to my fears and start entertaining such thoughts. I became so afraid of my own thoughts because it would cause me to feel depressed even when I didn't want to feel that way.

I was bounded and felt like I no longer had control over my thoughts. I cried to God asking Him, when will these thoughts leave? 

I then had a dream that opened my eyes to the reality that I was already set free in Jesus. I didn't have to struggle or fear such anxious thoughts that come and torment me.

I dreamt that there was a black cat who had rabies. I tried avoiding the cat but whenever I would call it out to go away or tried to close the door on it, the cat would come even closer to me. But then in one scene of my dream, I remember walking away from the cat and disregarding it, and the cat went farther away from me.

Through this dream, Jesus opened my eyes and showed me that I needed to change my perspective. I needed to stop seeing my struggle as a battle that needed to be fought, but one that has already been foughten.

The moment I disregarded the cat, it left me. It was when I acknowledged the power of the cat that I became afraid and the cat came even closer to me. Jesus reminded me that He is in me and because He is in me every darkness has to flee.

1 John 1:5 says, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." We have the choice to walk in darkness or His light. When we walk in His light, we have fellowship with Jesus and His blood purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

There is power in the name of Jesus, and we just need to believe it. Throughout scripture we see Jesus casting out demons and making people whole. That is who Jesus was and still is today.

He has given us the authority to walk victoriously over the enemy. Jesus says in Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

We can be so afraid of the very thing that keeps us in bondage, but when we realize that we have been set free in Jesus, we have nothing to fear. Our old sin habits no longer have power over us because in Jesus we have the power to overcome anything.

We need to stop saying we are trying to change and believe that we are changed.

In Luke 13:10 we see Jesus healing a woman who has been bound by a spirit causing her to be crippled. Jesus goes to the women and heals her and said, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity” (Luke 13:12).

Just as Jesus came to set that woman free, He also came to set you free.

Jesus longs to set you free from any bondage that is holding you back from living for Him. Bondage from the enemy is any limitation to live for Jesus with our whole being. Whether your struggle is emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or physically, Jesus wants to make you whole.

Jesus created you to thrive and to live in freedom. It's time for you to believe and walk in the freedom that comes when you accept Jesus as your savior. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here."

Are you facing any bondages in your life? Ask Jesus to touch you and to set you free.

When you are faced with temptation, say to yourself, "Jesus has set me free". You will see the power of your words and faith transform you and bring your healing. Jesus says in Luke 17:19, "Your faith has made you whole."Your faith in Jesus has the power to make you whole.

Jesus wants to set you free so that you can set others free in Him. Your testimony has the power to help others walk from darkness into the light of Christ. God has mighty plans for your life. Don't let the enemy stop you from living your life to the fullest. So remember, live set free in Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you that you have set me free to set others free in you. 

Investing In Eternity

It can be easy to get caught up in the world we live in and forget to invest in eternity. We can become so consumed with our own needs that we forget the treasure in investing in people. There is life after death and there are many who need to know Jesus. We have the chance to use our lives and resources to make a lasting impact for eternity.

God opened my eyes to another level during my recent Singapore mission trip. We stayed with a couple who has opened their home to over 40 people throughout the years. Their heart is to open their homes to young people who come from broken homes or no family and have no place to stay. They are currently hosting 8 young people and have dedicated their lives to loving them and creating a safe atmosphere.

Their hospitality to us was also beyond what we expected. They not only hosted us but also covered a lot of our meals and made sure we had everything we needed during the trip.

The love that this couple displayed was so beautiful. My husband and I were able to hear one of the stories of a teenager living in the home, which they call the Last Resort. Prior to the Last Resort, he got so used to of the feeling of rejection and pain that he refused to connect with people to prevent feelings of any pain.

He became numb to what true love is. But through staying at the Last Resort, he was able to experience genuine love that comes from Christ. There are many testimonies from this couple that has transformed many young lives.

I was reminded of this verse as I saw how this couple loved others:

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:20-21).

Investing in people will never be a waste of time, it's an investment that will last for eternity. You may not see the impact of what you are doing today, but trust that God is watering the seeds you are planting. Whether you are spending your time discipling someone, opening your home, or giving of your resources, it makes a difference towards eternity.

Jesus says in Luke 12:33, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."

Countless times we see Jesus reminding us to not neglect those who are in need. James 2:15-16 says, "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"

Life is more than food and the clothing we wear (Luke 12:23). Let us not be so occupied with our own lives that we miss the lives around us that God wants us to help. Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you. He will show you who He wants you to invest in.

What can you do today to be a blessing? Who has God put in your life to share the love of Jesus with? 

There are lives that need to experience and know the love and truth of Jesus. He has given the body (us as believers) the duty to be the light of the world so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). Money won't last forever, but souls will. God has given you time and resources to love and draw souls to Him. So remember, invest in eternity.

Learn more about the Last Resort here: www.thelastresort.life

It's Time To Fight Our Fears

Fear can be our greatest enemy if we don't learn how to fight them off. The only way to overcome our fears is to speak truth over our fears. Truth is found in the word of God. It contains all we need to tear down the lies of the enemy. It's time to fight our fears.

Fear is contagious. Once we entertain fear in one area of our lives, it spreads to other areas of our lives.

That where I found myself at, in a mixture of fear all around.

God had opened the door and confirmed for my husband and me to go to Singapore for a missions trip. However, we only had less than 2 weeks to raise funds for this trip. Going to this trip would also be a sacrifice for my husband since he had planned to use this summer time to build up finances.

Worries started going in my mind. What if we don't raise the $3500 that we need? What if our endeavor's to raise finances fail? Soon enough I found fear seeping through other areas of my life such as with Living Revelations and our home.

I know God had called me to give myself wholly to establishing this ministry, but I had fears that I wouldn't be capable to build partners to sustain the ministry. I started having doubts about other promises that God has spoken to us such as bringing us a house to live in.

I decided to get into my alone time with Jesus and it was there where He awakened me and said, "It's time to fight your fears."

I realized that entertaining all these fears would do no good for me and only pull me away from persevering in the path that I know God wants me to be in. At that moment I decided to choose to fight my fears with God's truth.

"God I know you will bring the partners for Living Revelations. You have birthed this ministry in me and I will not let discouragement tempt me to give up. I will continue to keep your way, hope in you and trust that you will exalt me to inherit your promises (Psalm 37:34)."

"God, you say that you always do immeasurably more than what we ask or imagine so I believe you will provide more than enough what we need for this Singapore trip (Ephesians 3:20)."

God has given us His word to speak over our lives. The word of God is our sword to use against our fears. Ephesians 6:17 says, “...Take up the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.”

What fears have you been battling with? It's time to fight your fears with God's truth.

Use every moment of fear to cause you to press into the battle of prayer even more with God's truth. The reason the enemy tempts us to not get in the word of God is that He doesn’t want us to have our sword for battle. He wants us to be defeated. But now is the time to pick up our sword and start fighting through His lies.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The enemy uses fear to take us off from the path of God. However, faith will lead us to the path of God.

Faith is choosing to believe what God said over what we see.

There will be times in our lives where we will be faced at a crossroad; to choose the path of fear or faith. It's only when we choose to obey God and choose the path of faith that we can walk into the good plans He has for our lives.

Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Are you faced at a crossroad? Will you choose to take the path of faith? 

It's when we choose to partner with faith that we will see God's miraculous hand move upon our lives.

We see throughout the Bible the results of those who chose to walk by faith and not by sight. Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered God faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11). Moses was able to see the Red Sea split and watch His people cross the sea into safety (Hebrews 11:29). There are many more faith stories in the Bible that we can read to encourage our own faith walk.

We have today to make the decision to live such a life of faith as those in the Bible. We have the opportunity to live a life where many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him. So remember, it's time to fight our fears.