This Is Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. — 1 John 4:10

God is love.

And those who abide in God, abide in love.

He loved us.

And he sent His only Son as a living sacrific for our sins.

An atoning scrifice.

God Showed His Love Among Us

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. — 1 John 4:9

Here's some delicious ahi Kirk marinated last week.

And he made some Manhattans to go with it - with extra special maraschino cherries.

Yum!

God also provides us with good things.

He showed His love among us by sending us His Son.

His one and only Son, Jesus.

Sent into our world, taking on human form.

So that we might live through Him.

No Servant Is Greater Than His Master

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.  — John 13:16-17 

Today we celebrated Lent with 17 other congregations at our church.

It was a wonderful service of praise and worship.

And ended with contemplation and darkness.

We left in silence, reading Scriptures written below artwork depicting the stations of the cross.

Very moving and humbling.

This Is Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. — 1 John 4:10

God loved us and sent His Son Jesus to us.

Jesus died for our sins so that we can live with Him forever.

This Valentine's week, it's comforting to know that God's love for us is greater than life.

He loved us before we ever knew Him.

And He loves me still, in spite of my sin.

These red tulips remind me of His deep love.

A thoughtful Valentine's gift from our daughter.

God Sent His Son

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. — Galatians 4:4-5 

When God's time had fully come, God sent His Son, Jesus.

He was born of Mary.

And born under the la

Born to redeem those under the law.

Jesus was born that we might receive adoption into His family.

He is the light in our darkness.

Sent by God to redeem us from our sins.

The Work of God

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” — John 6:29

Jesus tells us to believe in Him.

God calls us to do His work and to believe in Jesus.

God sent Jesus to earth for us.

To pay the penalty for our sins.

And to prepare a place for us in heaven.

Yesterday my friend's brother-in-law died after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in January.

His family is grieving and my friend's sister is feeling the great loss.

But he went peacefully and is now without pain and living with Jesus his Savior.

And we are grateful.

The Father Has Sent His Son

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. — 1 John 14:15 

God has sent His Son to the be our Savior.

Jesus is the Savior of the world.

But if I were the only person in the world, He would have died just for me.

He did die just for me.

And for each of us, even while we were still sinner.

Amazing.

And wonderful!

This Is Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. — 1 John 4:10

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.

These are the beautiful flowers Kirk had waiting for me when I came home from work.

Along with a very sentimental and thoughtful card.

I got him some Sees candy, and some for Abby.

We are a loving family.

But our love can't even compare with God's love for us.

This is love.

Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son.

God sent Jesus as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

He sacrificed His Son for me.

That's love!

The Virgin's Name Was Mary

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. — Luke 1:26

God sent Gabriel to Nazareth.

To the virgin Mary.

She was pledged to be married to Joseph.

Joseph was a descendant of David.

And so was His Son, Jesus.

Here's a photo of our choir concert from yesterday.

Beautiful.

Whoever Hears My Word and Believes

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. — John 5:24

Whoever hears God's Word and believes it has eternal life.

Easter reminds us that when we believe in Jesus, we have everlasting life.

Because Jesus lives, we will live with Him again one day.

He has crossed over from death to life.

That gives us hope that one day we can do the same.

God Showed His Love

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. — 1 John 4:9

As we approach Easter, we remember that God sacrificed His Son for us.

I have an only child, and I cannot imagine giving her up for someone else.

Much less for someone who I consider an enemy.

But God did that for me and for the whole world.

Even while I was still a sinner.

He sent His one and only Son into the world for me.

If I had been the only one on earth, He still would have done it for me alone.

Amazing.

Just so I can live with Him.

This is how God showed His love among us.

Thank You.

God Sent His Son

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. — Galatians 4:4-5

My brothers are adopted.

They came to our house right after they were born, and my sister and I had the pleasure of babysitting them, feeding them, changing them, etc.

Now they are grown men, still part of our family.

Here's Tim with his jag.

God has adopted me into His family.

Jesus was born and died to redeem me.

The law convicts me of my sin, and Jesus paid the price for my sin by dying on the cross.

He came alive again and now sits at the right hand of God the Father.

He redeems me - one under the law so I can be adopted into His family.