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“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

This is a repeat, but the song is amazing.  I thoroughly enjoyed Hawk Nelson talk about it on "Behind the Music" on K-Love.  These guys really understand theology and how understanding who we are will change what we do and say.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

Here is a new song by Hawk Nelson called "Live Like You're Loved."  What a great reminder to live from our identity not for it.  I love the chorus: "So go ahead and live like you're loved. It's ok to act like you've been set free. His love has made you more than enough. So go ahead and be who he made you to be."

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”         (1 John 4:9-10)

Because God is love How priceless is your unfailing love , O God ! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36:7)  Whoever does not love does not know God , because God is love . (1 John 4:8)   38  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [ a ] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) I am loved But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:8)  The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)  For God so loved the world that he gave his on...

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

This is the final post on my thoughts from Sabbatical.  I have already posted on rest and relationships that occurred during these 3 months.  Today I would like to share reflections from Sabbatical.  Here they are in no particular order: God is good and I am loved .  The words of a new song capture this thought, "You're a good good Father. It's who you are. It's who you are. It's who you are.  And I am loved by you. It's who I am. It's who I am. It's who I am. You're perfect in all of your ways." I Am His-Identity- For many people, what we do defines us.  For pastors, this can especially be true.  So, how would my identity be affected by not going "to work" for 3 months.  Early during my time off, I heard God whisper, "I Am His."  This helped me remind myself throughout these last few months that my identity in Christ is so important. Abiding/Fruit Bearing/Good Works -I am combining all of these because they are related....

While I was visiting The Village Church in Dallas on sabbatical, they sang this song.  I loved the chorus and it has been coming to mind throughout the day and night.  Be reminded of who God is and who you are as you listen.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”         (1 John 4:9-10)

As I have written before, I love the book Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith.  Here is a portion of his prayer for today: “When the time had fully come” you came, not a day early and not a day late. As humbling as it was to be born under the ceiling of a stable, being born under the weight of the law was a far greater burden. Yet that’s exactly why you came into the world—to be born under God’s law to redeem us—to redeem me from my sin and my rebellion, to rescue me from my unwillingness and inability to love God as he deserves. There’s no way in the world I could’ve ever fulfilled the demands of God’s righteous, perfect, and holy law. Only you could and only you did. I worship, praise, and adore you, Lord Jesus. Because you lived in my place and died in my place, I’m no longer a slave but a son of the living and loving God, with the full rights thereof. Abba, Father has robed this prodigal with your righteousness and has sent his Spirit to live in my heart. My future looks amazi...

Below is a portion of a prayer from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith. But that’s not at all what I’m feeling today. I see your beauty in the gospel, and I do not doubt your love for me one bit. Right now I’m just feeling scattered, splintered, discombobulated, pulled in a myriad of directions with a big school of little piranha nibbling away at my soul. I’m not feeling tempted to do something crazy; I’m just feeling a little crazed. I so long for the day when “all things in heaven and on earth” will be brought together in you— that is, “summed up,” integrated, reunited. No more discombobulation, just combobulation! In light of that day, please meet me in this day. Center and settle me, Jesus. Help me to take my thoughts captive; help me to reel in my fluctuating emotions; help me to still the clatter and remove some of the clutter from my spirit. You are my head and I am in your heart, and that is enough. I love being loved by you, Lord Jesus. I love you only because you fi...

I met Francesca Battistelli at ICRS a few years ago.  She is one of my daughters favorites.  I love her message in this song for me and for you too.  He knows your name!  I'm famous in my Father's eyes.  Be reminded of what God thinks of you.

These are the titles of several chapters from Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll.  Here are some quotes for you to consider as you think about your identity: Rather than complaining, it's better to humbly start serving to meet a church's needs and invite others to also help.  In this, we have imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness. In the former, we are declared holy in the sight of God. In the latter, we are empowered to live holy lives by the Spirit of God after being born again to live a new life in Christ.  Sadly, we often forget this wonderful benefit of regeneration and instead try to change our outward behavior,forgetting that change begins deep inside us and works its way out into our daily actions.  Anger, when rightly harnessed and directed at true injustices (not our perceived injustices), can be a powerful force for justice, goodness, and love.  The only helpful answer to our bitterness and anger is the gospel.  In...