We were late to service, because Lily decided she wanted to throw a fit and not go to the nursery. I guess that's kind of funny, because when we first started going, I would've been mortified. But today, I just picked her up, sat her in there, and said, "You'll be fine. Have fun!" I was kind of nervous though, because today was one of the other baby's first day in there, and I didn't want Miss Liz to have to worry about Lily! Luckily, she was just fine after we left.
Anyhow, we had to sit up front. It felt like we were at a different church or something. And I always feel like everyone's staring at me when I'm in the front. Ha! It was so awesome though. We sang all of my favorite songs today! I've featured almost all of them on here before. We sang "From the Inside Out" (Hillsong), "Your Love, Oh Lord" (Third Day), "How He Loves Us" (David Crowder Band), and "The Day That True Love Died" (Phil Wickham). Wow, it was so amazing!
Here's a cute picture of the girls after church. The guys were having a meeting about our new building and the work that will be started next week, so we were waiting for that to be over. Please keep our guys in your prayers.......God is already answering prayers. Our Pastor said today that there is a group of guys who do mission work and they have volunteered to help with the framing and other things that need to be done!
Today our sermon was on Crazy Love. Love is not a feeling or a contract. Feelings don't last long-term. Religion teaches love as a contract, that you have to earn it, but that's not what the Bible teaches. Love is a choice. It's unconditional and it's a decision that you make that says no matter what, even if you aren't meeting your end of the bargain, I will still love you. Love is a verb, an action word. Romans 5:8 says that God demonstrated His love for us. He didn't just say He loved us, He showed it by giving us His son. It's not that we loved Him back. There was no promise of love from us, but He still showed His love. (see John 3:16)What is love? Love is God. Love is not just His nature, Love IS God. We only have a capacity to love because He first loved. If you look at 1 Corinthians, the love chapter, and substitute the word "love" with "God", you will see who God is. God is patient. God is kind. God does not envy, boast, is not proud, is not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails. I love looking at it that way!
Our Pastor said he has two wishes for us:
1. For us to understand that we are fully and unconditionally loved with a crazy kind of love by God. We can't do anything to make Him love us more or less. Even if you never love Him back, His love is unique for you and He loves you in a way that He loves no one else. Just like we love each of our kids with all of our hearts, and no matter how many we have, we still have enough love for each one and love them each in a unique way, that is how God loves us.
2. For us to love like that. The Bible is God's love letter to us. We should all love like that. We are called to love God and love others as we love ourselves. If we would love people the way God loves us, it would change the world. If we simply love people, they will be drawn to God because of the way we love them. Everything about your life changes when you're motivated by that kind of love. You will change dramatically and people will think you're crazy and they will be right!
I was so excited (and once again amazed by the way God works) when I saw that our next series is on "Fear". That is the one thing holding me back from being obedient right now and I pray that God will use this series to help me work through my fears!
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We went to Grandma's today (my MIL) for lunch and Miss Zoey was showing us her new skill. She is 10 mos. old today and has been walking for almost a month already! She looks so cute with her tiny little legs, walking around!
Of course, the girls just love playing with her.
She looks like an angel with the light coming down on her here. She's so precious!
I was taking some videos of her, and we thought this was so adorable! She knocked down these toys and then started dancing. LOL!Hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day!!
10 comments:
What a great day!
Love the pictures of the kiddos.
What an awesome lesson at church today! That's even more awesome that the next series will be on fear. I can't wait to hear more on that!
The pics of the girls are precious and that is just amazing about Zoey walking already! That's awesome!
Sounds like a good message today! The next one sounds interesting too! Would love to hear more about that.
Our messages were similar today. Cute video and as always your girls are adorable. Glad you had a nice day!
what fun!! I love your thoughts on the sermon. We talked about love and friendship evangelism in Sunday School ... so incredible!!
How neat, love the cute picture. Church is so good for us too. It is so much like yours now, awesome. I can give you tips on painting. I know it will be worth it.
LOVE your words on LOVE!
What a sweet video. Your girls are so cute and Zoey too. And, a great lesson on the love of God! Sometimes, I am just overwhelmed with how much that God loves me! :)
I have a little token of friendship for you over at my place. :)
Sounds like y'all had a great day at church and visiting with family! The pictures are adorable as always! I love seeing new pics of little Zoey. She is growing up too fast!
His Love is amazing. 'The love of God has been shed abroad in your hearts...' which means we have the capacity to love as He loves. God is Love. Love is a person. I love that! Agape love. Beautiful.
If you go through the new testament I think there are around 350 references to 'Fear Not'. I did a study on it about 8 years ago and it's amazing. When you look at when Jesus or the angels would say it, it basically would let the person know 'Keep your eyes on God. Don't look at the circumstances around you. Keep your eyes on The Word.' Like the story of Jairus when we came to Jesus wanting him to come and heal his daughter who was sick. While they were walking to Jairus' house, the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment and Jesus stopped and talked to her. While doing that, Jairus' servant came and told him 'Trouble not the master, your daughter has died.' and immediately Jesus looked at Jairus and said 'Fear Not, for your daughter is not dead.' He needed Jairus to keep his eyes on Jesus. Keep his faith working.
Can't wait to hear what you guys learn on fear!
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