Thursday’s Love . . .

Resting in God’s Gift of Love 

And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit
to fill our hearts with his love . . . Romans 5:5 

Thoughts for today & tomorrow . . .

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever . . . Psalm 136:26 

Yesterday was the shortest day and last night was longest night of the year. The winter solstice occurred Wednesday night, Dec. 21st. . . . the day when the North Pole reaches its farthest tilt away from the sun, resulting in the shortest period of daylight of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, followed by the longest night. With the Winter Solstice
literally being the longest night of the year, the night when things are their darkest, it becomes a proper time to pause
to remember that God’s light comes in the darkness . . . that in fact, without the darkness, we wouldn’t notice the
arrival of the light. 

During this season of great joy and light, for many it feels more like a season of great darkness and shadows . . . the
light is hidden from view. While others are experiencing the light of hope, peace, joy, and love, some feel as though
hope has gone, peace extinguished, joy snuffed out, and love vanished. 

Yet no one has to be alone in the darkness. God has promised to meet you, and welcomes you, just as you are, just where you are . . . He will help you see the light, and help you find comfort and rest in the glow of the light within the protective shelter of His healing love. It is okay to pour out your grief, to release your anger, to face your emptiness,
to feel your hurt and sadness . . . just don’t let it consume you . . . and know that through it all, God cares. 

As memories bubble up in the heart and soul at Christmas time, every single person is missing someone that they once shared their life with . . . a parent, a child, a sibling, a grandparent, as special friend, or even a deeply loved pet. This is
a time to pray and reach out to others you know who are sad or lonely, struggling with the season . . . it’s also a time
for you to pray and reach out to God for yourself. 

Your Father in Heaven loves you so much, that He is always with you . . . whether you realize it or not, He is always there. You can be assured He is watching you, He is listening to you, and He knows when you are sad, hurting, content, or at peace.  

When you accept Jesus’s invitation to be in a relationship with God, you are secure in His love forever. There is nothing powerful enough to separate you from God’s love. Even when things are difficult or you feel far from God, it’s never because God stops loving you . . . And it is because of His deep love for you that God brought Christ to earth, so that
you know He truly understands what it means to be human. God will never stop loving you, no matter what. 

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever . . . Psalm 52:8 

Reflections of Love . . .  

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them . . . 1 John 4:16 

Life is a different, unique journey for each of God’s children, including you . . . designed for you by the Heavenly Father out of love . . . filled with individual experiences and characteristics. Remember, you are a unique creation of God. 

It is important that you learn to love yourself, with all your flaws. Let go of every feeling of unworthiness. Give up those feelings to God and allow Him to heal you. 

God loves you . . .  Christ died for you out of love . . . realize that you are worthy of that love. 

It is okay to mend slowly . . . a broken bone takes time, so do you. Keep your focus on the hope offered you through divine love, keep taking steps forward, and look to your palms overflowing with His love when you need a little reminder. 

Hold onto the precious hope realized in the birth of the baby and remember that the faithful love of the Lord never
ends! His mercies never cease! That faithfulness is great, and His mercies begin fresh every morning, with the
dawning of the light. 

In this Christmas season, remember Christ comes as Emmanuel, God-with-us . . . and He is your Provider, Healer, Comforter and Friend in the darkest of times because He is The Light. 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions . . . Psalm 51:1 

Take some time to write down your struggles or frustrations, your sadness or pain, who you are missing so deeply
this season . . . and then close your eyes and feel God’s presence around you . . . you are never alone.

Remember to pray . . .  

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or
withheld his love from me! . . . Psalm 66:20 

Prayer is an appropriate time to focus and refocus yourself daily. Part of learning to focus on the love God provides through Christ, is to be mindful, alert, and aware of when your attention starts to drift . . . everyone struggles to varying degrees at keeping focus in many, many areas of life.

Find a way that speaks to you so that you can speak with God . . . find a safe space to slow down, close out the world, and rest for a few moments. 

Read scripture, listen to soothing music, the sound of water, find a place of solitude or silence . . . whatever helps you take your mind away from the world and allows you heart and soul to rest, communicate, and pray.  

God is always there to comfort you with His unfailing love as you bring your struggles to Him. Close your eyes and imagine Christ coming into the room, making His way to you, and sitting down with you. Allow yourself to be silent with Him for a moment or two, then talk to Him, and listen as you pour out your prayers to Him . . . then relax as he takes
your burdens to God.

C. S. Lewis wrote, “The great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not.” 

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 . . . Ephesians 3:17-18

Resting in God’s Gift of Love through the Kaleidoscope . . .  

The greatest gift of all came that first Christmas. It wasn’t wrapped in a beautiful package and set under a decorated tree. God sent us a gift of love wrapped in swaddling clothes.  God sent himself to live among us and teach us the true meaning of love. Our perfect gift would later be rewrapped in the scars of our sin and nailed to the rugged wood of a cross on Calvary, all because of love. 

As you watch the kaleidoscope’s movement shimmering and shining, think about how brilliant the Light of Christ must gloriously beam . . . the true magic of Christmas, God’s love for all, came down at Christmas . . . and rest in the hope, peace, joy, and love that God places in your heart and soul. 

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us . . . 1 John 4:12  

Rest in God’s Gift of The Light . . . Choose Love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uKdlbgg088&t=3s