1 Thessalonians 1:3

"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Thessalonians 1:3

I love the way that Paul words this sentence. I love it because of the way he pieces together work & faith; labor & love; and endurance & hope.

When we acquire faith in Christ (and not just a belief in Him), we begin to choose to work for Him. We can be assured that when we work for Christ and lay down our lives for Him, He will bless us. 

Although we do not need to do good works to receive God's love and spend an eternity with Him (because of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection), our faith in Him produces good works. As we follow Him and continue to grow in love with Him, we want to labor for Him. We want to because we love Him. It is similar to the way we respond when we love others. When you love and care about someone, you choose to serve them because you simply love them. So, our labor is prompted by love.

Endurance. We are called to endure hardships, persecutions, and life on this place called Earth that is not our home. How do you endure something tough? I know that for me, I endure through hope. I endure because I have something to hope for and I have something to look forward to. Jesus Christ gives us hope because we know that when we have faith in Him, we have eternity with Him. We will be brought back home.

So, to sum this all up - Our work and service for Christ is produced by our faith in Him. Our labor is prompted by our love for Him. Our endurance is inspired by our hope in Him.

It's a scary world, after all.

Our world is scary. I was reminded the other day of how unsafe our world is and how disturbing things can be. Planet Earth is a beautiful planet, but boy is it messy. The people on planet Earth are beautiful, but boy are we messy. I'm not referring to physical messiness (but we are pretty messy that way too...just look at my room!). I'm referring to how (yeah, I'm gonna just say it) screwed up we are! There is so much evil and perverted, twisted, things in our world. It is sad that a girl cannot walk alone without being in fear of someone attacking her or taking advantage of her body. It is sad that there are so many children who come home to parents who are high. It is sad that so many men do not feel adequate to be a man because no one ever affirmed them that they have what it takes. It is sad that so many people do not feel loved. So many people do not know that they are loved! That hurts my heart (as cheesy as that sounds). So many people do not know that they are loved...this phrase continuously crosses my mind and blows it away. How can that be? Every single person ever to exist is loved (by people here, but even more - by the creator). Yet, so many people struggle to believe it. And some, do not even know it. Can we just tell (even one) person each day that they are loved!? Maybe that can be my new goal. And actually, it doesn't have to be everyday (but that would be awesome). I do know that the Holy Spirit will nudge us to tell a person that they are loved at just the right time, place, and...to someone who really needs to hear it. Although, I've gotta say - I think everyone could be reminded that they are loved (I know I need reminded at times too). I'll start now - You. Are. Loved.

And please, please, believe those three words in bold. My heart would not hurt if it were not true. It hurts because it is true and so many people either do not know it, forget it, or do not believe it. So many things in this world tell us otherwise (that's just one way our world gets messy).

I feel that I need to leave this post on a happy note. Y'all ready for this?
Y o u. A r e. L o v e d.

Defeated Flower Surrenders to Love

“Love me,” she says

“Love me,” she fights for

“Love me,” she lives for

One by one, the petals fall and color fades

One bold petal remains strongly determined to win

It tugs and pulls for recognition, cries out for the loved heart

“I love you,” it says

“I love you,” it fights for

“I love you,” it lives for

Defeated flower surrenders to love

One by one, rose buds appear and thorns crumble

New petals bloom into beautiful love and life

Bold color bleeds throughout every blossom

Until she freely says, “I am loved, I am loved,

I fight for my savior, I live for my savior, and I love him”