Encapsulated

: to enclose in or as if in a capsule 

 

I was thinking about God and how he loves us, and why?  He desires us to love Him, and we have the capability to move His heart as we respond to His deeds that move ours.  God has done so many things to attract man into a loving relationship with Himself.  Yet Jesus, the Son of God, who is one with God, doesn't really have to try to do things to cause us to love Him.  It is who He is.  Our Lord Jesus is the worthy One, deserving of all love and devotion, because He is the source of Love.  We can only truly love, when we receive Love.  If we say "yes" to God's gift of salvation born out of how He so loved the world, than we become capable of giving love.  

 

^{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. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

The Lord being moved by our love is still a hard concept to grasp.  God is love.  Our Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are very satisfied in love with each other, and God does not need our love.  He is perfect.  So why would He want us to love Him, and how could our weak love move Him?

Then I heard a prophetic singer singing about how God had wrapped her heart in His.  I got this picture in my mind of my little heart wrapped in bacon like a shrimp, but then the Holy Spirit gave me another picture.  This time my heart was encapsulated by God.  He had every part of my heart surround and under watch, even under control, but I was still giving it to Him.  Little movements of my heart in obedience toward Him were seen and greatly enjoyed by God.  Inviting Jesus to be my Savior enables our hearts to be encapsulated by God.  We are under His protection, and He manages the growth of the capsule of our hearts surrendered to Him.  

Romans 8:38-39 (New King James Version)³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. ² We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. ³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 

 

He is trustworthy to bring us forth in pure love.  So when I feel like a failure in loving God, loving myself, and loving others, I am going to try to remember this picture of my heart encapsulated by God.  If any know how to make things grow into perfection it is Him who is the creator, the author and perfecter of His creation.

 

^{Hebrews 12:2}Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

So Holy Spirit come even more, even now and enlarge my heart to receive and give love.  Thank You Jesus for letting us know love by dying for us, that we may truly live.  Thank You Jesus for giving us hope that we will, we definitely will love the Lord with all our hearts, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  This has been prophesied over God's people from long ago.  (Luke 10:25-28)

Luke 10:26-28
  
OH Wow! the depths of the love of God! Will we ever fully know Him?  We will keep being fascinated for ages and ages by His love for us!

Praise our God who loves us, all glory to Him, our living Hope.  Praise Jesus the faithful witness of our loving Father God.  Let's rejoice that we are born of God, King of kings, forever He will rule over all!

 

 

 

 

I Don't Have It

I don't have the strength to do my work, plus overtime, plus all the things to stay healthy in my body, and relationships.  But guess what?! God gives me the grace to have the strength to accomplish my work, and God gives me the health and the ability to love others.  God gives me what I need, I don't have it. 

 I cannot even rest!  I try to rest and my mind whirls, but somehow I fall a sleep and awake ready to go again the next day, saying "Yes God, You are my God".  I cannot relax, but God gives me peace.  Knowing He is all powerful, all loving toward me, and that He never rests, puts my mind at ease, and I trust in my Lord Jesus.  God gives me rest, I don't have it.

I can't think straight.  I won't think rightly about God, but His Holy Spirit in me renews my mind.  My thoughts stray from truth, but by God's Spirit I take every  one of my thoughts captive and put them under the leadership of Jesus Christ. God has given me power, love and a sound mind, I don't have it.

NOW, I have all I need in God.  I have grace through faith in God, and Holy Spirit God ushers me into His rest, deep rest, assured of His love and protection over me.  NOW, I have the mind of Christ, as I speak things into existence by proclaiming His good promises found in His good Book.  

http://www.clarion-call.org/extras/promise.htm

NOW, God has given me all I need for LIFE and godliness, that I may be transformed into His image, from glory to glory, from trial to victory, from grace and power, from humility and honor.  The Lord He is God, and my Maker He is my provider, my redeemer.  His love will sustain me, and uphold me forever.

1 Peter 1:3-5 (The Message)A New Life ^3-5What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.