Snip-its

Coming out of such a busy, relentless week, I didn't have the chance---or take the time---to do devotions this week... So, today I took some time to just sit and read some devotionals. Some snip-its stuck out to me, so I thought I'd update with a post : )

From J.M. Farro, God Cares About the Details

...The Lord knows that we are in a constant battle against good and evil in this world, and He's aware of how weary we can get. He longs to encourage us regularly with countless little blessings, as well as with big ones. These little encouragements can give us the lift we need to keep pressing on to the victory when we've been tempted to lose heart. Sometimes I feel like I need a special touch from God, so I pray something like, "Lord, do something new and wonderful in my life!" I may not even know what it is that I want Him to do, but He knows, and He never disappoints me.

Don't let anyone tell you that God doesn't care about the little details of your life. There are plenty of believers who are constantly proving otherwise, and I'm one of them. My friend Peggy is another. Jesus said, "Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow." (John 16:24 TLB) Don't wait a minute longer. Take the Lord up on His offer today, and let Him prove to you once again that He is true to His Word. May this precious promise from God encourage your heart today--"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives"! (Psalm 37:23 NLT)...

From Devotional Classics, excerpts from Bernard of Clairvaux's On the Love of God

... No one deserves our love more [than God]...he gave himself for us despite the fact that we are so undeserving...

...True love is precisely this: that it does not seek its own interests...

The First Degree of Love: Love of Self for Self's Sake
...Seeking first the kingdom means to prefer to bear the yoke of modesty and restraint rather than allow sin to reign in your mortal body... How can we have a pure love for our neighbor if we do not love him in God? And you cannot love your neighbor unless you love God

The Third Degree of Love: Love of God for God's Sake
...We have obtained this degree when we can say, "Give praise to the Lord for he is good, not because he is good to me, but because he is good."