Tag: God’s love

Bekah's Heart

GOD=LOVE ~ I=LOVED

Rebekah Freed

“Love is not what God does.
Love is who God IS.“

This phrase from Pastor Chuck’s sermon this week had stuck with me. What’s so amazing about this truth is that it takes away all need to perform or “do” something to gain God’s love.  His love can’t change because it’s who He is.  For example, an apple is an apple no matter what.  I may really want an orange, but not matter what I do to that apple, I’ll never make it change into an orange.  Or, another example, I have almost close to 100% German heritage.  No matter what i do, I can’t change that truth about myself.  I am who I am; God is who He is… and God IS love. (1 John 4)

So, no matter what, that remains true.  I can’t do something to make Him love me more and I can’t do anything that would make Him love me any less.  This amazing truth about God leads to an amazing truth about myself.

If God is love,
Then Bekah is loved.

And not only in the sense that “Jesus loves me” (though that is true)… by God’s grace, that’s my identity!  No matter what I do or what’s been done to me, I will forever be: LOVED.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. (1 Corinthians 15:10a)

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Bekah's Heart, Devotional

Freedom in the Father’s Love

Rebekah Freed

Wednesday night the new LifeMatters Lifegroup started at First Trinity geared towards those in the 18-35 range. We started a series looking at who God is in our lives specifically through some examples and stories in the Old Testament. Our study on Wednesday focused in on Psalm 103.
I encourage you to read the whole thing because it is AWESOME, but for the sake of this post I want to focus in on verse 13 which says

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him

Now I realize that for some reading this, it may be difficult to understand from your personal experience a father having compassion on his children. It’s perhaps hard to see God in a Fatherly role and not cringe. But in His fatherly role, God is anything but harsh or demanding. Sure, discipline is a part of being a father (see Hebrews 12:3-11), but more than anything it’s a loving, compassionate role. So, if you don’t have the best example of a caring, gracious father, I ask you to try to set that aside and stick with me for a moment.

As we went through the study, the author shared the following concept that really stuck with me:

“Fatherly love has a God-given ability to create a sense of security in children. Children who feel safe are more confident and move about more freely. On the other hand, fear and insecurity create paralysis. As God’s children, trusting His love completely can give us the freedom and confidence we need to live by faith.”

I think this is something any of us can understand no matter how amazing or not our own earthly father was. When we feel safe, we are confident and free. When we live in an environment of fear and insecurity, well, we don’t truly live at all.

This really caught my attention and stuck with me because of how true I see it in my life. When I let myself get caught in Satan’s lies of comparison and insecurity, I hide. I’m paralyzed. I’m stuck. BUT when I remember who I really am and how much my Heavenly Father loves and cares for me, I breathe more freely. I stand up boldly. I communicate more clearly. I live more passionately.

This is the Father we are called to trust in… one who “forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:3-4) A Father who “is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (vs 8) “From everlasting to everlasting” is this Father’s love! (vs 17)

Now that’s a love worth trusting in! May you find freedom today in Our Father’s love to be exactly who He created you to be!

31 Days of Imperfection, God-Sighting Saturday

You’re NOT in Control! {31 Days of Imperfection – Day 4/God Sighting Saturday}

Rebekah Freed

I sit at breakfast and can’t help but be annoyed.  Somehow a faucet that was perfectly fine yesterday now has a consistent…

drip.

drip.

drip.

And I think: “Isn’t this just how life goes?!?” as I recall other “drips” in life… like computer problems that have plagued the last few months: viruses, programs not working correctly, issues with internet connections.

drip.

drip.

drip.

I see the “drips” in the lives of people around me as well.  Loved ones who just can’t seem to get a break when it comes to health issues.  Others who experience one set of bad news after another.  Friends who find themselves rejected time and time again.

drip.

drip.

drip.

And, at least in my life, this constant dripping seems to scream: YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

I like having things in order, put together, in their place.  I like being in control and having a plan.  I like… being perfect.   As all these things continue to drip, the cup catching the water begins to fill up…. then the bowl… then the bucket… and soon even that is overflowing.  Each drop of water: a reminder I don’t have it together… I’m not in control… I’m not perfect.  Each drop: one more temptation to believe the lies of Satan, to feel like a failure, to wonder what I’m doing wrong, to try to fix it on my own, to become overwhelmed.

And occasionally, you just have to remember to empty the cup, the bowl, the bucket.

And the emptying happens…

… in tears.

sometimes we just need to literally “drip.”

… in music.

“What if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know You’re near?
What if the trials of this life are your blessings in disguise?” (Blessings by Laura Story)

… in God’s Word.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. … you are precious and honored in my sight… I love you.” (Isa. 43:2,4)

 … in a card from a friend.

You sometimes wonder… can I do this?
                 You can do all things through Christ. (Phil. 4:13)
You ask… do I have what it takes?
                 You’ve got all you need. (2 Pet. 1:3)
You question… is who I am okay?
                 You’re more than okay–You’re His. (Ps. 139:14)

Praying for you today, friend!

… in remembering:

I’m not perfect, but I am loved.
I’m not in control, but I know personally the One who is.
I can’t fix everything, but God placed me in the midst of people willing to help.
I am overwhelmed, but my God is bigger.

And as God’s voice grows louder, the annoying “drip… drip… drip” of Satan’s lies slowly fades away.

Bekah's Heart, College Ministry, Crossroads, Devotional, First Trinity, Internship Highlights, Youth Ministry

My Blogging “To-Do” List

Rebekah Freed

Wow.  There are so many things I’ve been wanting to blog about, but because of all the awesome things happening right now, I have has less and less time to actually write about it.  So, before I forget what they are, I’ve started a list, right here on the blog.  I hope to get to these things soon.  Keep your eyes open and, if there’s something you really want to hear about (either below or something else), post a comment or something to bug me and maybe it’ll get here sooner rather than later. :) 

  1. More details about our 30 Hour Famine a couple weeks ago with the youth and some awesome places we saw God
  2. The Crossroads CONNECT activity tonight as we learned more about Lent by talking about Mardi Gras and the masks we wear that God asks us to lay down during lent, and everyday, so we can see his love (To be written Tuesday)
  3. A connection between faith, life, and the basement renovations at FT
  4. Young Adult Ministry – in general, what’s happening at FT, and why it’s important all wrapped up in the fact that I’m a “young adult” myself
  5. My preparations to leave for Haiti in 10 9 days- preparing literally, in my heart, in prayer, with others, and more
  6. The song “Pleasing”