Each Friday will be a surprise!
Sometimes it will be a meaningful quote, sometimes a link to a blog post that has moved me, sometimes a Scripture verse, sometimes a favorite song or whatever else may inspire me!
I'm calling it 'Friday's Thought'
This past year I choose 'Love' as my ONE word and as I focused on the Love of God, I found this verse coming alive for me.
"We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19
What a powerful verse. He has always loved us. Even before we loved Him.
There has never been a time when God hasn't loved us.
I recently read this powerful prayer from A.W. Tozer to the Lord about His love:
"Our Father which art in heaven, we your children are often troubled in mind, hearing within us at once the affirmations of faith and the accusations of conscience.
We are sure that there is in us nothing that could attract the love of One as holy and as just as You are. Yet You have declared Your unchanging love for us in Christ Jesus.
If nothing in us can win Your love, nothing in the universe can prevent You from loving us.
Your love is uncaused and undeserved. You are Yourself the reason for the love wherewith we are loved.
Help us to believe the intensity, the eternity of the love that has found us.
Then love will cast out fear; and our troubled hearts will be at peace, trusting not in what we are but in what You have declared Yourself to be. Amen"
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
I admit I've read and heard this verse a million times but until I read this quote from Tozer, I never really thought about it deeply.
He says here:
"Fear is the painful emotion that arises at the thought that we may be harmed or made to suffer. This fear persists while we are subject to the will of someone who does not desire our well-being. The moment we come under the protection of one of good will, fear is cast out."
Our Father in heaven only has good-will towards us. He loves us. And when we trust in Him, fear is cast out.
Such great thoughts to dwell on at the start of this new year. : )
* My new ONE word for 2014 is: Purposeful
I want to be more purposeful in all that I do. More kind with my words, more giving with my time and more patient with my family.
Hello, visiting from Faith Filled Friday! I felt blessed by your message. 'Purposeful,' a great word to ponder throughout 2014.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, thanks for coming by and visiting! Glad my post blessed you. : )
DeleteI've never read the quote from Tozer so thank you so much for sharing. And thank you for joining us for Three Word Wednesday. Delighted to have you there. I love your new Friday series. It makes me think of my Friday series which is call Friday Randomness because what I share may randomly change. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed weekend. I hope you join us again next week.
Happy I found your blog! Thanks for the opportunity to link up.
DeleteI'll have to check out your 'Friday Randomness.' When I was trying to think of a name for my Friday series I actually thought of using 'Random Friday's' but ended up with 'Friday's Thought.' Thanks for stopping by! : )
Hi Cathy, I am excited to see how your one word is expressed throughout the year :) Have a blessed day. Tara.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara. Happy New Year! : )
DeleteVery good word, purposefull. Visiting from Spiritual Sundays
ReplyDeleteMy word is Abide. I want to abide more deeply in Him !
ReplyDeleteLove your word Hazel. Thanks for stopping by! : )
DeleteMy word for 2014 is similar to yours! Mine is present. Last year it was intentional which is what inspired my blog. :) Good luck with purposeful! http://womenwithintention.com/one-word-2014/
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. I'll come by your blog and read about your one word. Thanks for stopping by. : )
DeleteEnjoyed your post, Cathy! Tozer is a favorite! Your word is similar to mine: Intentional! Wishing you an abundance of His blessings in 2014!
ReplyDeleteThank-you June. Happy new year to you! : )
DeleteI love your word!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteEnjoyed the post and your one word - purposeful. You used the same template as I did which was fun for me to see :) My one word is Faith. Nice to have "met" you this morning from Sunday Stillness. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you too. Love your word. Thanks for stopping by. : )
DeleteGreat choice for your one word!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at Thought-Provoking Thursday. :)
Great pick Cathy! I feel like this could easily be my word for the year too, although I'm officially trying to be thankful, in order to open the door to the Spirit to receive His gifts freely this year - but purposeful is crucial for this to work. Thank you for sharing with Cozy Reading Spot.
ReplyDeleteMarissa
Cathy, just wanted to let you know that this post is going to be featured at Cozy Reading Spot this week! ;)
DeleteThanks Marissa!
DeleteThe verse you have that says there is not fear in love. Ya, I definitely struggle with that one. I like to not trust in God which means that I am not loving Him. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThat quote really hit me too. As a mom I often fear for my kids, but God keeps reminding me that they are His and He loves them. I can trust Him with them.
DeleteThanks for stopping by Lydia! : )