Roller-Coaster Christianity

 

By Andrea Merrell

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Galatians 5:22 NLT

 

Those who live in the South understand dealing with roller-coaster weather. It might be 85 degrees one day and 35 degrees the next. One day you’re in shorts and sandals and the next in jackets and snow boots. Southerners learn to layer because we never know what to expect from one day to the next—regardless of weather reports.

Funny how some people are the same. One day they’re sporting a bright, sunny disposition and the next they’re coming at you with hurricane-force words and attitudes. When we’re around them, we never know what to expect from one minute to the next. And layers don’t help. Maybe they should have someone issuing weather reports on their frame of mind.

As believers, we need to learn to layer—our thoughts, words, and actions with God’s Word. A good place to start is with the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22. It all begins with love. According to the Open Bible:

The Fruit of the Spirit is love, and it is manifested in joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

·       Joy is love’s strength.

·       Peace is love’s security.

·       Long-suffering is love’s patience.

·       Gentleness is love’s conduct.

·       Goodness is love’s character.

·       Faith is love’s confidence.

·       Meekness is love’s humility.

·       Temperance is love’s victory.

Instead of riding the emotional roller coaster, let’s plant ourselves deep in the soil of God’s Word so we can produce love—God’s love—and all of its wonderful characteristics.

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

 

Make Room for Love

 

By Andrea Merrell

But love will last forever!

1 Corinthians 13:8b NLT

The couple had longed for a child. They prayed and waited for what seemed an eternity. Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. They joyfully brought their newly adopted son into their home, but all was not as they expected.

The boy was shy. Hesitant. Afraid. Having been in a number of foster homes and part of the system for all of his eight years, he had become accustomed to strict rules and boundaries. He had not been allowed freedom or the privilege of making his own choices. He was also treated harshly by many of the people who were supposed to take care of and protect him. To him, this transition would be no different than the others.

But this couple gave the boy something he had never experienced: love. They did everything they could to make him feel safe. Trusted. At home. They gave him freedom he had never experienced and told him he had the “run of the house”—his new forever home.

Too many people feel like that little boy—unloved and unwanted. But the Bible tells us:

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear.  (1 John 4:17-18 MSG)

This couple made room for love—unconditional, undeserved, and unearned—just like God’s love for us. The young boy thrived in his new environment

Love never fails. Have you made room for love?

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

The Toxicity of Fear

 

By Andrea Merrell

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 NKJV

 

Fear. My constant companion for much of my life. It kept me from doing so many things, but I never realized how much it affected my body and my emotions.

According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, “Fear triggers more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than 30 different hormones and neurotransmitters."

Columnist Ann Landers says, “People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.”

The Word for You Today takes it a step further: “It’s the root of all our stress. When fear causes a stress reaction in us, it actually marinates our body in toxic chemicals.” The author goes on to tell us what we can expect:

• The fear of not being accepted by others can make you develop a phony personality, stifling your true self and hiding who God made you to be.
• The fear of failure will prevent you from trying new things or stretching yourself to do more than you feel comfortable doing.
• The fear of failure can cause you not to enjoy your life today.

But what does the Bible have to say? “Fear involves torment,” but the perfect agape love of the Father will drive away that spirit because fear is of the Enemy. God’s gifts include a spirit of power, love, and a sound (self-disciplined) mind (2 Timothy 1:7 italics mine).

The psalmist said, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You" (Psalm 56:3 NKJV). Sounds like good advice. Don't be a slave to fear. Use your faith. Give your fears to God and allow His perfect love to drive them away once and for all.

 

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

 

A Great Big Love

 

By Andrea Merrell

God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will.
    Expect love, love, and more love! Jeremiah 31:3 MSG

 

There I was in the middle of the night, down on my knees in my daughter’s room. She had just thrown up, and I can tell you, it wasn’t pretty.

 

I heard sniffling and looked up. She was balanced on her knees, staring at me from her bed. Simply doing what mothers do—or so I thought—her tearful comment took me by complete surprise. “I’m so sorry. You must really love me.”

 

“Of course I do,” I said, trying to comprehend the tears.

 

“Well, that’s a great big love. I love you too, Mom.”

 

Fast forward about thirty years. Back surgery and a reaction to the anesthesia turned me into a hot mess. I could barely function and needed serious help. My baby girl came to the hospital and stayed with me until I was able to go home. I found myself staring at her and thinking, I’m so sorry. You must really love me. And that’s a great big love. She saw me at my worst, at one of the lowest points in my life. And she loved me through it all.

 

It made me even more thankful for the love God has for me. Agape love. Sacrificial and unconditional. Nothing that can be earned by being the best version of myself. God sees me at my worst when no one else sees. He is aware of every low point in my life. Every failure. Every sin. Yet He loves me with an everlasting love that goes beyond human comprehension, and sometimes He shows me by using other people.

 

Never doubt God’s love for you. It’s a great big love that never stops.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Don’t Be Discouraged

 By Andrea Merrell

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:9 KJV

“Well, I blew it again, Lord. When will I ever get it right? I’m sorry.”

When we mess up, it’s so easy to feel shame. To be discouraged. To feel like a failure. 

One morning I was being particularly hard on myself when I read these words by Sarah Young in Jesus Calling:

I am pleased with you, my child. Allow yourself to become fully aware of my pleasure shining upon you. You don’t have to perform well in order to receive my love. In fact, a performance focus will pull you away from Me toward some sort of Pharisaism. This can be a subtle form of idolatry, worshiping your own good works. It can also be a source of deep discouragement when your works don’t measure up to your expectations … The light of My love shines on you continually, regardless of your feelings or behavior. ~Jesus

What great news for every child of God. We are loved—unconditionally. We don’t have to work, perform, or beg for it. God pours out His love on us regardless of our inability to get it right every time. He doesn’t judge us by our wayward thoughts, words, and actions. He looks at the heart. And He forgives … over and over and over.

So, shift your focus away from self. Trust in the One who gave His life for you. Ask forgiveness when you blow it. Then accept it, forgive yourself, and move forward.

And don’t be discouraged.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and imagerymajestic.)

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God’s love is unconditional. We don’t have to work, perform, or beg for it. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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The Sting of Rejection

 By Andrea Merrell

Love never fails.

 I Corinthians 13:8 AMP.

Rejection hurts. It stings. It goes deep into our innermost being and wreaks havoc. One writer says it causes "feelings of inferiority, worthlessness, anger, inability to trust, and fear of intimacy.” **

Been there? I sure have.

I have experienced reject
ion with family and trusted friends, in the workplace, and even in the church. I’ve dealt with the I’m-a-mistake mentality, wondering if anyone really cared.

As painful as it is to live this way, we only make matters worse when we try to self-medicate by becoming a people-pleaser or workaholic.

So, what’s the answer? Finding our identity and our worth in Christ. Accepting His love and adoption into His family. Knowing what He says about us, and that His opinion is the only one that counts. Realizing that in His eyes, we are valuable and precious. Being confident that not only will He never leave us, we will spend eternity with Him in a place prepared especially for us.

Accept God’s amazing love and let it soothe and heal that sting of rejection. His love never fails.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and digitalart.)

** Quote taken from The Word for You Today (Bob Gass ministries.)

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Accept God's amazing love, and let it soothe and heal the sting of rejection. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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Do You See Me?

By Andrea Merrell

“Watch me, Grandma, watch me!”

My granddaughter bounced up and down, waving her little hand to make sure I was watching her attempt at gymnastics. After each flip, she would pause to make sure I was still paying attention.” Did you see me, Grandma? Did I do good?”

As children grow, they need constant approval and affirmation as they try new things. They want to be seen. But what about adults? Does that need ever go away completely?

We all need to be seen, and we all need to be loved. But trying to fulfill those needs apart from the Lord can leave us empty and cause us to feel invisible.

The truth is with God we are:

Fully Seen 
We are not invisible. God sees us completely, inside and out, every moment of every day. He sees our tears, our pain, and our needs. He views us through the shed blood of Jesus, clothed in His robe of righteousness.

Fully Known 
God knew us before we were ever conceived. In fact, we were His idea. He knows our thoughts and the desires of our heart. He knows the number of hairs on our head. And He’s even engraved our name on the palm of His hand.

Fully Loved 
God loves us so much He gave the best He had to give. He sent His only Son to suffer and die for us so we can spend eternity with Him. His love is unconditional and unending. He loves us in spite of our weaknesses and imperfections. He doesn’t play favorites, and you never have to perform to win His approval. There is nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate us from that amazing love.

When you feel invisible in this crazy world, know that God sees you when it feels as if no one else does. You are fully seen, fully known, and fully loved.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and aechan.)

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Relentless Love

By Andrea Merrell

The Lord is slow to anger 

and filled with unfailing love.

Numbers 14:18 NLT

Relentless. That was the only word that came to mind.

My husband and I generally avoid timeshare pitches, but this one seemed a good fit since we like to camp in our motor home. After the tour and a heavy-duty pitch, we turned down the $15,000 opportunity. Then the big boss came in and offered us the same opportunity for only $5,000. Needless to say, when we refused that offer as well, the folks at this establishment were not happy campers.

A few days later, I got an email saying another fantastic opportunity had just become available, and we could have the same package for only $1,000 plus a yearly fee. Amazing. From $15,000 down to $1,000 for the same amenities. Someone’s pocket would have been well-padded had we taken the original offer. This was months ago, and I still get an occasional email as they try to pull me in.

Relentless. Constant, incessant, persistent. Sounds like a bad thing, right? Like a drippy faucet. But it also means endless, unfailing, and unwavering—just like the love of God.

The Bible says God pursues us. He created us, formed us, gifted us, and gave us life. Thankfully, he is relentless in His pursuit. My heart is full to overflowing when I remember how God pursued me when I was determined to go my own way. That unfailing love surrounded me and wooed me back into His arms.

If you’re running from God, know that He is relentless in His pursuit of you.

 (Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and winnond.)

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God's love for you is endless, unfailing , and unwavering ... relentless. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)  

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Loving the Good, the Bad, and Even the Ugly

By Andrea Merrell

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, 

and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind;

for the Lord searches all hearts and understands

all the intent of the thoughts.

If you seek Him, He will be found by you;

but if you forsake Him,

He will cast you off forever.

1 Chronicles 28:9 NKJV

There I was in all my glory—no make-up and a plastic cap on my head, tied securely around my chin. Pieces of hair had been pulled through the holes in the cap and were sticking out like porcupine quills. I looked like a cartoon character with my finger stuck in an electrical socket.

In walked my fiancé. I fully expected him to take one look and run for the hills. He didn’t. Actually, he found the situation quite comical.

In reality, I’m glad he saw me at my worst before we got married. I’m not one for pretense. What you see is what you get. I actually know a woman who—at least for the first few years of her marriage—would go to bed with make-up on, get up and wash it off after her husband fell asleep, then get up early and put on fresh make-up before her husband woke up. Too much pressure for this gal.

Over the past forty-plus years, my husband has seen the good, the bad, and even the ugly—and loved me through it all. Because of his unconditional love, I learned early on that I didn’t have to hide anything from him.

In the same way, I don’t have to try and hide anything from God. As David said to Solomon, the Lord knows our thoughts and searches our heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. How comforting to know that I can be myself—even with all my faults and failures—knowing God’s love is unconditional and never fails.

He accepts me no matter what … the good, the bad, and—yes—even the ugly.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/farconville.)

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God loves us unconditionally, even with all our faults and failures.  via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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