Archive for Introduction

Introduction. THE POINT. 1st Point.

THE POINT: Jesus loves you beyond anything you have ever experienced or can imagine. (p.14)

How often have we given into the temptation to doubt that Jesus truly loves us? Momentarily or for longer periods of time?

If we really understood the heart of Jesus, we would sense His pain that we have yielded to that temptation, like one who feels their love is rejected.

It is possible, however, to stop, pause and reflect on where we are at the moment, and then to open ourselves to being loved by Jesus, in totally new ways, unlike anything we have experienced in the past. It is a ‘heart pause’ and then a yielding to love as we sense His presence and the power of His love.

What is needed is to clear the air between ourselves and Him, to get it out in the open, to admit to Him that we have doubted, for however long it has been, one hour, one day, one year, one decade or one lifetime to this point. Freedom comes from the honest admission and a desire to move forward trusting in His love.

The problem we encounter within ourselves is that we too often focus on ourselves and what we want, as opposed to His Will for us. For that we need to ask His forgiveness, knowing that he will forgive and forget. And then we need to do the same. The danger here is our self condemnation and continuing to hold on to our past failures, which will stunt our spiritual growth.

We have the opportunity to be excited each day about being loved by Him in new ways. We need only look for the continuing unfolding of those new ways of being loved by Him. We can see it happening in small ways each day as we anticipate the newness of His love each day.

And the sure knowledge of His love for us brings us serenity and joy no matter how our days unfold.

Introduction. THE POINT. 2nd Point

THE POINT: Jesus loves you beyond anything you have ever experienced or can imagine. (p.14)

Jesus:

2. Are you open to loving Me, Jesus, in totally new ways beyond the ways you have before now? Are you willing to let Me show you those new ways?

My response to Him:

Jesus, of course You know all things and You know that I am open to loving You in totally new ways!

But as soon as I say that, I am brought up short, because You also know I have hesitated before, fearful that You would ask too much of me. That You would ask more than I could give. Or more than I wanted to give is closer to it. I have been the one holding back in this relationship, not You. You have and continue to give Your all, and I give so little.

The ways I have loved You in the past have been so meager and poor, I am ashamed to even confront the reality of it.

What an absurd fear I harbored! How could I have been so fearful of the only Person who I can trust completely with my very life?

Show me how to love You in new ways each day! To consider it brings joy to my heart and serenity to my soul as I know You will not deny my request!

Show me yet today how to love You anew, Jesus, and again tomorrow! In my family, at work, particularly with those I do not easily get along with, with others I meet in my life on a daily basis. And then there are those I am repulsed by in the media whose lives are in direct opposition to mine, and those who are persecuting the Church, as well as those with whom we are at war.

Now the loving is getting much tougher, the demands of love more piercing as I try to have compassion for them. Help me to love as You love, Jesus and not so selfishly as is my tendency. Help me to love generously and mercifully as You do.

May the flame of love I have for You in my heart be turned into a Blowtorch, that others may see it and come to know You!