Love Him...

This year is well on its way and January is almost over. I haven't written since Thanksgiving, no excuse just busy. I used to look at the New Year not only as a new beginning, a fresh page but it always seems to fizzle out....yes I grow and change but my list is always too long and each year has its own set of challenges.

I came across a blog that has inspired and challenged me. She invites you to a One Word 2011 Challenge http://www.gritandglory.com/ for the New Year. At first I thought, you've got to be kidding me how do I pick just one word. I couldn't stop thinking about this challenge so I began my list to pray over and see what One Word I could focus on this year.......peace, trust, faith, strength, love, believe, hope, courage, patience.....and I kept coming back to the word "love". Love Him to be exact. This is what God has been stretching me personally with this past year....I say I love Him but if I am honest He has not been first place, my center, my focus, my everything....I have not truly loved Him more than anyone or anything. God loves me, Linda, just for being me and he wants me to love Him not for what He can do for me but just love Him.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5- Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.


This passage is often called - The Shema. Shema means "to hear". The Shema was foundational to the Jewish faith & was to be recited morning and night.


vs. 5- Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
(AMP)....love Him with your entire being and with all your might.

(MSG)....love Him with all that's in you, love Him with all you've got.


Psalm 8:17 - I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.


To be honest I haven't always loved God first, and held him as the center.....my core foundation of who I am. I love him but many times I have put my family, friends, affirmation, acceptance, my service and so many other things even good things in front of Him.

Let go, leave behind, depart from, abandon, give up, turn your back on, forsake the past, and press on in 2011.


Eph. 3:20 - He can do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think. Stay connected to the power source.

We need to be empty enough and open enough to discover the holiness we were made for.

"You have to trust the place that is solid, the place where you can say yes to God's love even when you do not feel it." ~ Henri Nouwen

"We do not think ourselves into a new way of living. We live ourselves into new ways of thinking." ~ Pete Wilson

Lamentations 3;22-23 - The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.

Nothing on earth can compare to the strength God is willing to interject into the lives caught in the act of believing.

Matthew 22:37-38 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Lord, I know that to put my life in proper order, I need to love You above all things and all people.

Genesis 17:7 - And I will always be Your God & the God of your descendants after you.

Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep her in perfect peace, for her mind is stayed on You, because she trusts in You.

Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Psalm 42:8 - Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

Romans 8:39 - Absolutely nothing can get between us & God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Psalm 144:2 - He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in Him.

1 Peter 4:19 - Trust yourself to God who made you, for he will never fail you.

Psalm 119:10 - I'm singleminded in pursuit of You; don't let me miss the roadsigns You've posted.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

What will your One Word be in 2011?