Tag Archives: love

Don’t Take Comfort in Fear

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by Sarah Limardo, CBN

Over the weekend, my husband granted my seven-month-long wish to have a cat. Even though he doesn’t like cats, there’s something about me that just needs to love something furry and cute.

It seems like such a small thing, but I prayed for this kitten for months. I prayed that she would be happy and healthy, and that we could give her a good home she felt safe in. I was devoted to my pet before I even knew her.

I wanted a calico, and when I arrived at the pet store, there she was. She slept in her litter box and didn’t approach the cage door when I called. She stared at me, and something in my heart tugged. I loved her, so I brought her home and set her up with her own little space in the laundry room.

My cat wasn’t the happy cat I expected right off the bat. She’s happy, and thankfully doesn’t sleep in her litter box, but she seeks refuge behind the washing machine where we can’t reach her easily. I’ve resorted to climbing on top of the appliances to feed her, dropping one piece of food after another into her hungry jaws. I pet her head and she purrs, and stares at me when I pull my hand away, waiting for more. She’s an absolute sucker for affection, but she won’t come out to get it yet.

After a day and a half of trying to coax her out, I turned to my husband and said, “If only she knew it was okay to come out, she would see it’s warmer out here and she can have all the love she wants.”

God nudged me then. How many times had I resisted him while he patiently waited for me to step into his arms? How long had I left him calling to me while I stayed where I was comfortable and refused to step out into something better for me?

Revelation 3:20 says: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (NLT)

I understand the Father’s love a little better now. Of all the times I’ve hidden with my pain and past hurt, staying where I knew I would be safe, he’s been there with more love in his heart than I realized. And he gently coaxed me out, and still does to this day, to show me that with him there is nothing but warmth, love, and a happy and healthy life. He is always here as a friend and a loving father. He’s already come to me—I just need to step out and greet him.

As I try to get my kitten to understand that there is nothing to fear because I love her, God impresses the same truth on my heart. There is no fear in His love. He says, “For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘don’t be afraid. I am here to help you” (Isaiah 41:13 NLT).

We shouldn’t be comfortable in our fear. God has so many good things for us, and we need only to step out and be vulnerable to a God who loves us more than we can imagine.

_________________________

Sarah Limardo’s career includes Multi-media Associate Producer for The 700 Club, a co-host on CBN’s Prayer Warriors Podcast, and a writer. She graduated from Regent University in 2015 with a BA in English and Creative Writing, and completed her MA in Strategic Communication in 2020. Sarah is passionate about storytelling in whatever form it may take. Whether it be devotionals, blog posts, short stories, or the novels growing dusty on her hard drive, she aims to share positive and inspirational messages through her writing.

The Good Samaritan

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Jesus told the story of a man left half dead,
having fallen among thieves, who stripped and beat him, Jesus said.

There was no one to help the man until a priest came by;
but he saw him and continued on, not caring if the man would die.

After that, another, called a Levite, came upon the site,
but he, too, hurried on, with no regard to this man’s plight.

Then came a certain Samaritan, who, despite his journey’s goal,
forgot his own plans and took steps to see that this man would be made whole.

He bandaged up the man’s wounds, applying oil and wine–
“Every life is important,” he must have thought, “What if it were mine?”

He took the man to an inn and cared for him the rest of the day;
the next morning he paid the innkeeper to do so, in order to be on his way.

“If more than that is needed,” he said, “I’ll repay you when I come back.”
His compassion was deep, and he needed to see that he’d recovered from the attack.

Jesus finished the story and asked who’d been the man’s neighbor of the three.
A lawyer answered, “The one who showed mercy to him”–and, likewise, so should we…

not pass up opportunities to help any who may need our care;
but instead, on a daily basis, of such times, may we be quickly aware.

(postscript to the above…)

Before Jesus told of this story, the same lawyer had put Him to a test–
“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He thought that he knew this best.

Jesus pointed him to the Law—to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and then to love your neighbor as yourself—these two, really, are intertwined.

If someone says they love God, whom they’ve not actually seen with their eyes,
yet is merciless or hates his brother whom he’s seen, the Bible says that he lies.

Jesus emphasized that loving God was the great and foremost command.
But, again, He said, that these two laws always go hand in hand.

By this, Jesus taught of God’s perfect plan–
Love God and love your fellow man.

But there’s only been one who has ever fulfilled God’s laws in a perfect way–
Jesus Christ, Himself, who has been our example, Teacher, Savior and Lord,
from then until this present day.

P. A. Oltrogge

1 John 4:20, 21 “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Matthew 22:37-40 “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’”

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

From Luke 10:25-28 and Luke 10:29-37
From John 13:13-15

opportunities to minister
through appropriately named:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org

You may want to read of them sending dental/medical workers to Ukraine and other areas…or view “A Day in the Life of a Samaritan’s Purse Volunteer.”

Rooted in His Love

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By J. Vetter,
Guest Contributor

Remember when an exciting story gripped your attention and you could barely put the book down? Cooperating with the Holy Spirit is so similar. We don’t always know how an adventure will turn out; but with each step, there is greater anticipation of something beautiful developing. A landscaping venture became that story for me…

It started with the decision to tear out our struggling honeysuckle vine, which covered an arbor in our backyard. This vine had served faithfully the seventeen years we had lived in our home and, no doubt, many years before. It produced a few, sweet-smelling flowers every year; but I had to face the truth—it was weary and ready to call it quits.

I had no clue how huge the main root would be. My husband began to dig and continued through the grass for over four feet to get to the end. As he followed the root’s path, my mind began to follow another path—roots spoken of in the Bible. The first thought that came to mind was that we are to be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:17). And the longer we walk in His love, the deeper our roots are established. His love can travel along that root, even during times of drought or pain, revealing the goodness of God, giving us hope that all will work out.

However, another root is spoken of in scripture, mentioned in Hebrews 12:15–the harmful root of bitterness. As I thought about each of those two roots, I thought about how each one can be difficult to pull out when deeply rooted, which would be good in the case of love but not good in the case of bitterness.

Having dug up the long root, my husband held it up next to him, and I even took a picture of it. Spiritually, this represented to me any root of bitterness due to unforgiveness being removed from our family.

End of story, I thought… Not yet!

A few days later, our adult grandson, Micah, brought us a Mimosa tree, which had been given to him by a family he was helping to get ready to move. It was in a large pot, and he wanted to plant it in our yard. I was slow to catch on to the story that God was wanting to write, and I said, no. I didn’t want to dig up the yard, because my belief was that the tree might not even make it.

Then I went online and looked up Mimosa trees. I read that they have sweet-smelling flowers that attract butterflies. I discovered that they were expensive to buy. My heart immediately grasped the new plan, and I was filled with joy, feeling we were to plant it where the old honeysuckle vine had been removed. Micah dug around the tree, planted lantana, and encircled it with white rock. At first, it looked weak and spindly, but it survived the extremely cold winter and is now flourishing.

To me, this represented replacing the bitter with the sweet in our family. I’m waiting for the blossoms and butterflies; but, by faith, I see them. And I see the finished beauty of a family that is strongly rooted and grounded in God’s love!

Mimosa flowers, a few years later…

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32

“And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” 1 John 3:23

Peace, Love, and Joy

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Conservatory photo by Porch of the Lord

Words of Jesus:

“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:9-17 NLT

Purity of Heart and Speech

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Help me, Father in heaven, to be mindful of what Your Word has said–that my words shouldn’t be critical of others, but they should bless instead. If someone’s ways seem contrary to mine, or if they’ve hurt me in some way, every person is still made in Your image–I must show love towards them and pray.

A forest spring doesn’t flow with waters that are both bitter and fresh; likewise, help me in “keeping under” any wrong attitudes of my flesh. A fig tree doesn’t produce olives, and figs don’t come from a grapevine; neither should judgmental words towards others come from these lips of mine.

The same lips that praise my God, should speak with His love; and I should be kind, in turn. Purity, being peace loving and gentle, willing to yield to others, are things that I must learn. With humility that’s gleaned from Your wisdom, I’ll avoid jealousy and selfish ambition, for You’ve said that disorder and evil of every kind come from either condition.

I should be full of Your mercy, showing no favoritism, and always be sincere–Planting seeds of peace, I’ll reap a harvest of righteousness–all truths that You’ve made clear.

P. A. Oltrogge

“And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.” words of Jesus in Luke 6:31

“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:7-18 NLT

“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing. For the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.’” 1 Peter 3:9-12 NLT

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (from 1-12)

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 (from 25-32) NKJV

The Good Samaritan

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Jesus told the story of a man left half dead, having fallen among thieves, who stripped and beat him, Jesus said.

There was no one to help the man until a priest came by; but he saw him and continued on, not caring if the man would die.

After that, another, called a Levite, came upon the site, but he, too, hurried on, with no regard to this man’s plight.

Then came a certain Samaritan, who, despite his journey’s goal, forgot his own plans and took steps to see that this man would be made whole.

He bandaged up the man’s wounds, applying oil and wine–“Every life is important,” he must have thought, “What if it were mine?”

He took the man to an inn and cared for him the rest of the day; the next morning he paid the innkeeper to do so, in order to be on his way.

“If more than that is needed,” he said, “I’ll repay you when I come back.” His compassion was deep, and he needed to see that he’d recovered from the attack.

Jesus finished the story and asked who’d been the man’s neighbor of the three. A lawyer answered, “The one who showed mercy to him”–and, likewise, so should we…

not pass up opportunities to help any who need our care; but instead, on a daily basis, of such times, may we be quickly aware.

(postscript to the above…)

Before Jesus told of this story, the same lawyer had put Him to a test–“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He may have thought that he knew this best.

Jesus pointed him to the Law—to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and then to love your neighbor as yourself—these two, really, are intertwined.

If someone says they love God, whom they’ve not actually seen with their eyes, yet is merciless or hates his brother whom he’s seen, the Bible says that he lies.

Jesus emphasized that loving God was the great and foremost command. But, again, He said, that these two laws always go hand in hand.

By this, Jesus taught of God’s perfect plan–
Love God and love your fellow man.

But there’s only been one who has ever fulfilled God’s laws in a perfect way–Jesus Christ, Himself, who has been our example, Teacher, Savior and Lord, from then until this present day.

P. A. Oltrogge

1 John 4:20, 21 “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Matthew 22:37-40 “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’”

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

From Luke 10:25-37
From John 13:13-15

opportunities to minister
through appropriately named: www.samaritanspurse.org

The following was received yesterday from Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse:

Dear Friend:

Today I was in Jerusalem to dedicate 14 new ambulances to the glory of Almighty God and for the use of Magen David Adom, the emergency medical services organization for Israel. Magen David Adom has lost 19 of its personnel since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, and we honored the fallen in a ceremony attended by hundreds, including the mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion.

When I heard that Hamas terrorists destroyed 14 of Israel’s ambulances on Oct. 7, I immediately told our Samaritan’s Purse team that we would replace every one that was lost. The mostly volunteer force of Magen David Adom put themselves at great risk to help others. I felt we needed to support them in any way we can.

The father of one brave soldier and Magen David Adom member killed in this war spoke today. He said his daughter, Lior, had a big heart, full of compassion. “Every time an ambulance goes on a mission, it will be like Lior and her friends are still helping and saving lives,” he said. “These ambulances will save many lives and will be a living memory of our fallen loved ones.”

We will also be providing seven additional ambulances, which will have armor plating, to Magen David Adom and setting up new emergency response stations in communities at risk. This supports what Samaritan’s Purse has already been doing in Israel, including providing food, medical trauma kits, and children’s gift boxes. We pray that these vehicles will bring comfort to the people of Israel. Pray also for our teams and partners who continue to provide relief to those in need. 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 
“May they prosper who love you.” 
Psalm 122:6

Emmanuel, God With Us

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Photo by Porch of the Lord

Emmanuel, God with us…
You see, we are not alone.
Emmanuel, God with us…
Through the birth of a Child, God’s presence was shown.
He wouldn’t leave us without knowledge of His love,
But made Himself known, coming down from above.
Emmanuel, God with us…
From God, the Father, came a Baby so mild.
Emmanuel, God with us…
God’s Son was embodied in a holy Child.
Born of a virgin, the handmaiden of the Lord—
From His life, the goodness of God would be poured.
After humble beginnings in a manger stall,
His name would become great—He would die for all,
So that any individual living on this earth
Could personally know their God of great worth.
Emmanuel, God with us…
It’s the greatest name known.
Emmanuel, God with us in Jesus,
And now we need never be alone!

P. A. Oltrogge

“In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV