In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

If we live and love according to our understanding of right and wrong we will miss, mess up and make a mockery of love. Trust me I was an expert at this. This was my specialty. I was unwilling, unfeeling, unforgiving and unyielding in the manner in which I lived and I loved. I lived and loved based upon merit. People could not disappoint, fail or hurt me without penalty and I was a christian. I was a passive aggressive vengeful venom that would kill you dead before allowing you another opportunity to hurt me. I lived and I loved within my own defense. So when I reference or speak in terms of failure it’s not cute or cushy small talk…it’s the truth to my freedom.

Now that I’m free to live and love differently I am often considered “too soft, a push over, easily taken advantaged of, stupid, weak, having such a kInd heart, naive even”. My friends and family often scold me to live and love in the real world and to see people and situations as they are. It’s not that I don’t see the right and wrong of people and situations. It’s not that its alright to hurt, disappoint, play over, use or take me or my heart forgranted. It Is my having a clear understanding of the love of God towards me. God does not give up on us, He loves us unconditionally and always. His love doesn’t fluctuate, it is fixed be we right or wrong. The love of God covers a multitude of faults. If that’s the love we receive shouldn’t that be the love we give?

Our categories and understanding of right and wrong doesn’t determine worth. God’s grace does. Instead of focusing on the levels of right or wrong in terms of persons and situations it would best serve loves objective if we focussed on the levels of grace given. I now look at grace and began to fathom just how much we are loved, valued and treasured by God. Who wouldn’t want to reciprocate that type of love, live that type of life?

Living and loving with God as our defense works…it keeps us willing, feeling, forgiving, and yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit in, for and through us. God is saying “don’t see the levels of wrong, see and respond to the levels of grace upon us”. Isn’t that how God views us? He doesn’t look at us through disappointment, anger, hatred, our failures, inconsistencies, weaknesses or frailties. He loves us in light of His son’s blood. Thank God for His grace. Thank God for His mercy. Thank God for His love. ” And the world will know us by the manner we love” “I now live and love as I understand I am loved without the constraints of merit…God decides worth…can I tell you…YOU ARE WORTH the expression and experience of my love. There are dimensions of love only time and experience with God can unveil. This one decision is the best investment we’ll ever make. Knowing God’s purpose for life and love ushers us to such contentment, calm, collectiveness and commitment. Grace strengthens our resolve to Courageously approach, appreciate and apprehend the promise. God remains faithful. During this season it is my prayer that grace enhances the decision to love~AntTBri