Blog - Amelia McNeilly

Hope

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” ~Psalm 62:5

Over the past few days I have been overwhelmed. Sometimes the weight of life seems too heavy, and due to not feeling well I’ve not spent as much time in the Word as I should. This is when the devil wants to creep in and steal one’s peace of mind.

Last night, I was reading the latest issue of Set Apart Girl Magazine, and one of the articles listed Psalm 62:5. When I read this verse I immediately stopped and prayed. I realized that my discontentment and worry came from resting in my desires and control rather than in God. Putting too much emphasis on my circumstances, I was allowing those old familiar feelings of anxiousness and restlessness to take residence in my heart. This did nothing to improve my situation, but instead muddied my outlook. I am thankful that in my craziness the Lord remains patient and faithful. He is always kind and loving and never fails to give me the perspective I need from Scripture.

My circumstances may not reflect much hope, but my God does and so I will put my trust in Him, and Him alone.

What are you putting your trust in today? If you are feeling overwhelmed and burdened — open the Bible and cry out to the Lord. He is ready and waiting to give you the rest you desire.

I pray that you have a wonderful Monday. Be sure to check back on Wednesday as I begin my new blog series on Colossians 3:12-14.

Daily Inspirations

Daily Inspirations – February 15, 2016

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” ~1 Peter 4:8

Daily Inspirations

Daily Inspirations – February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine’s day! Remember the greatest love of all is from Jesus so love like Him today! “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Articles, Devotionals

Love letters from Jesus

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and for many it is a day to celebrate with the ones you love. However, not everyone has a spouse or significant other to celebrate with, and on a day filled with lots of love, flowers and chocolate, it can be very depressing for single folks. While others are waiting to receive a special gift, singles go into the day not expecting anything. For us, it is another reminder of what we long for but do not have.

As I have been pondering this over the past few days, the Lord has gently reminded me that on Valentine’s Day I am not alone because I have Him. He is greater than a boyfriend, husband, friend, or any gift that I could ever receive. He is the greatest gift. He is enough. I have everything I need in Him. As Isaiah 54:5 states, “For your Maker is your husband– the LORD Almighty is his name– the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

Because of Jesus, I am able to go through life completely fulfilled and content even if He never chooses to bless me with an earthly love story.

No love story is complete without Him because He is the greatest lover of all time.

With or without a husband, Jesus should always be the greatest lover of our souls. Nothing or no one should ever take the place of His rule in our hearts and lives.

During the past week, the Lord has brought to mind several verses that displays His great love for us. I am calling these my “Love Letters from Jesus.” Take a moment to read them and be encouraged. Whether you are married or single today, evaluate your relationship with the Lord. Are you allowing Him to be the Lord of your life? Do you make His relationship the most important one in your life?

When we put our relationship with Jesus above all else, every other relationship in our lives will become more beautiful.

Please know that you are not alone. Jesus loves you with a perfect and everlasting love. Unlike people, He will never let you down, and will always remain faithful. Allow these words from Scripture to penetrate your heart and mind, and choose to believe them —

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” ~Jeremiah 31:3

“But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” ~Isaiah 43:1

“He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.” ~Song of Solomon 2:4

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” ~Deuteronomy 7:6

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” ~Song of Solomon 6:3

“For your Maker is your husband– the LORD Almighty is his name– the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” ~Isaiah 54:5

Daily Inspirations

Daily Inspirations – February 13, 2016

“His love never fails.” ~1 Corinthians 13:8

Articles, Blog Series, Christian Living

New Blog Series – Colossians

Happy Friday, friends. I am excited to announce that beginning next week I will be starting a new series on my blog based on Colossians 3:12-15.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible and I look forward to studying it in more detail and share with you what God is teaching me through it. Be sure to check back next week for the first post.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals

Love Bears All Things

The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 on love is extremely convicting to me, especially the statement, “Love bears all things.”

Love may be easy when things are going our way, but this verse is not just talking about loving in the good times. This verse specifies the word all, which also means loving when times are tough and being willing to suffer for the sake of that love. When I read this particular verse I always think about the love of Christ, and ask myself, do I love Christ enough to suffer for the sake of loving Him? Am I willing to bear anything – persecution or death for the sake of loving Christ, and for others in my life that I love. I think that is what Paul is referring to in this statement, and is a sobering reminder for us to love in the same manner that Christ loved us.

Jonathan Edwards, one of my favorite theologians speaks of this matter and he gives several ways “love bears all things” in this regard. They are:

Love bears all things is being willing to undergo all sufferings, of all kinds, that are in the way of duty. For example, to prefer the honor of Christ before their own. This means to suffer and being willing to lose all things whether it be family, earthly possessions, etc. for that love.

Love bears all things is being willing to undergo all sufferings, of all degrees that are in the way of duty. This means to forsake all for the sake of Christ and to endure all degrees of mocking, contempt, etc for the sake of that relationship.

This type of love mentioned above is one that never gives up and has the ability to endure any hardship, sorrow, or disappointment that comes. This is how we should strive to love Christ and the people he puts into our lives. I think the true test of love in any relationship comes not when things are easy but when things are hard, and loving a person during the unlovable times. After all, that is how Christ loves us. When we are going through hard times and love does not come easy, Christ loves us anyway. There is nothing that we could go through that would make Christ not love us, and we should apply that concept to all the relationships God places in our lives.

Take some time today to pray and to surrender yourself to the Lord. Ask Him to show you how to love Him better, and ask him to give you wisdom in finding the ability to love the ones He has placed in your life.

Daily Inspirations