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Thankful Thursday ~ His Incredible Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
(1 John 4:7-9 ESV)

There are days where I get completely flustered and it is hard to show love to others (especially when they are not very nice). However, God is calling us to love and show love no matter what we receive in return. You see, John talked about His incredible love, with the most famous one being John 3:16. In 1 John 4:7-21 he tells us that love is from God and that we should act on this love with love in return.

I know that I have not been always lovable, but I also know that God has always loved me. That sometimes is overwhelming. So, when I have a hard time loving others as I should, I think about His incredible love. And that my friends is what I am thankful for this week.

What are you thankful for this weeks? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by this week. Remember: when you have a hard time loving others as you should, remember His incredible love for you.

Love & peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Jhunnelle
2. Daily Journey
3. Heavy Branches
4. In Vain		 5. Jen @ The Rising
6. Great Christian Kid Shows and More!
7. Where Has All the Simple Gone?
8. Bp		 9. LongingsEnd/To the wife who holds her breath
10. Transitions: Triplets of Purpose – What Time Is It?
11. Kathleen

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Thankful Thursday ~ Remembrance

Dad-&-I-1985 Today I write my Thankful Thursday post in remembrance of my father; is a bitter-sweet day. My dad would have celebrated his 75 birthday today. He has been with the Lord for the past 22 years though. He was only 53 years old when he passed away from cancer. Some would think that I should have gotten over his passing. To tell you the truth, I am not. I miss talking to him. I miss getting his advice on so many things. Even though I am myself now in my 50’s, I still miss him. The picture was taking  the year my son was born and my dad was so happy to be a first-time grandfather.

So, today, I am thankful for my earthly father. He has shared his wisdom with me. He taught me what is right and what is wrong. And that the Lord is faithful, not matter where we are in our life. I am looking forward to see my dad again in heaven. Maybe than he can tell me the things I missed in my life. But then again, we might be just celebrating being in the presence of the Lord 🙂 .

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Honor your father and mother; you never know how long you have them this side of heaven.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV)

Love & peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Kathleen 🙂
2. The Two Choices Every Mother Faces Daily
3. Refreshment for Desperate Times		 4. LaughingLady
5. bp
6. Run With Patience		 7. annies home

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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He is Risen – Easter Reflection 2013

He is Risen_edited-1

I love the words spoken on Easter morning: “He is Risen – He is Risen Indeed!!!” There is nothing more beautiful than an Easter sunrise service. It may be a little early to get up at 4am on a Sunday, but for me personally, it is well worth it.

You may have noticed (or not), I took a 40 day break from Facebook. It really was not intentional, but between Ash Wednesday and this morning, I did not post on Facebook. I used the time to be more intentional about my real-life relationships; especially the relationship with my Lord.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an argument with one of my closest friends. That was not intended at all, but it showed me that I need to work on my communication skills. Yes, I was in a ‘dark’ place filled with frustration, but I should not have said the things I said…

So, this morning, as my hands were cold, my heart warmed. It warmed with the love of Christ. He is the one I need to look to when frustrations hit; when the burdens seem too heavy. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Believe me, my dear friend, Jesus means what He says. When the heart is heavy, come to the cross and leave your burden at the foot of it. Jesus Himself said that life will not be easy, but when traveling with Him in our hearts, the burden is lighter.

We sang the song “You are Stronger” this morning after the reading of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 24:1-12). What a powerful song to sing on this glorious Easter morning. Let me leave you with the chorus of the song:

“You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written, Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all…”

Have a blessed Easter today and always…

Love & peace,
Iris

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Thankful Thursday ~ Unconditional Love

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.
(1 John 4:18-19 ESV)

Valentine’s Day, the day of LOVE. There is much written about this particular day here and here. I really do not know its origin, but I know LOVE comes from God. I counted 684 (ESV) and 763 (NLT) times the word LOVE in Scripture.

You see, God’s love is unconditional (see 1 John 4:18-19 and John 3:16-17 for example). Over the past year, I have been intentional about unconditional love. My love toward others, if romantic or friendships, should be just as God’s love toward me. I know that it is sometimes not easy to love others, especially the ones that do not like you, but Jesus had even something to say about that:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
(Matthew 5:43-46 ESV – emphasis mine)

Yes, love needs to be unconditional and I am thankful for God’s unconditional love.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: be intentional about LOVE, don’t just love your brother, sister, friend or husband/wife…love unconditionally!

Love & peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Why I Can Rejoice While In Hard Times
2. Heather @ Living In the Moment
3. It Feels Like Chaos
4. Saved by Grace
5. 3 Places to Observe God in Everyday Life		 6. Sarah@The Fontenot Four
7. LaughingLady
8. bp
9. Jess @ Homestead For Him
10. Pamela @ the Songs on the Way		 11. Planet Hugs
12. Happy Valentine’s Day with Thanks
13. Daily Journey
14. Rina @ Our Healing Moments

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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