HEAVENSREEF

One of the words GOD helped me choose this year is connection.  At first I didn’t think much of it, but already I see HIS HAND in showing me about connection with others, with HIS Church and how important it is.  None of us are alone in this walk.  After we love the LORD with all our hearts, souls and minds, we need to look at the people around us and even our neighbors.

SINCE GOD IS ABLE, THEN SO ARE WE

We worry way too much about what others may think, rather than just being who GOD made us and connecting with who HE places in our paths.  Our ability for connection happens everywhere we go.  So how do we connect?  Are our eyes open or is our nose in our phones!

JOSHUA 1: 3   “I WILL GIVE YOU EVERY PLACE WHERE YOU SET YOUR FOOT.”

The above scripture gives me great comfort.  Because the LORD is giving me those connections to love on HIS people every single day.  There is no place that our foot steps that has not been orchestrated by our GOD.

And so we connect.  Sometimes those connections are good and sometimes not so good.  It’s the connections where GOD is in the middle of the relationship that flourish and grow the most.  Don’t we pick the people we think are the best for us?  When I look at how that has worked for me, often when it was all my idea, things didn’t turn out too well.  I have had a few toxic people in my life and believe me it was not fun.  But when this happens we should learn from it instead of allowing bitterness to creep in due to the hurt that was caused.  Hurt people…….hurt people.  

ALL OF GOD’S LOVE SHOULD CHANGE HOW WE LOVE OTHERS.

I tend to believe you are never too old to learn something new and you are never too old to make a new friend……..a new connection.  When GOD sends connections our way they tend to run deep and are very satisfying.  GOD is a good and loving GOD and HIS word speaks of love and relationship everywhere in the Bible.

JOHN 13: 34   “A NEW COMMAND I GIVE YOU:  LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

In order to love, we need to connect and in order to connect we need to be salt and light to those around us.  HIS love shines through us when we abide deeply with our LORD.   HIS deep love within us will help us to love one another. 

1 JOHN 4: 7   “BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD.”

Connections that are born out of love usually stick around.  Yes, some connections end or drift away and often we don’t fully understand why.  But the ones that stay, stay a lifetime, stay through thick and thin and run deep.  Let’s make sure we nurture and cherish those connections all very carefully with GOD’S loving embrace guiding us. 

ROMANS 12: 10   “LOVE EACH OTHER WITH GENUINE AFFECTION, AND TAKE DELIGHT IN HONORING EACH OTHER.” 

It’s a New Year, is there someone GOD wants you to connect with?  Step out in faith with GOD’s loving arms wrapped around you……..then wrap HIS love around someone new.

JEREMIAH 31: 3   “THE LORD HAS APPEARED OF OLD TO ME, SAYING:  YES I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE; THEREFORE WITH LOVINGKINDNESS I HAVE DRAWN YOU.”