by Barbara Magnuson
Larry and I just spent a weekend with friends at Bear Trap Ranch located in the Pikes Peak area. Two glorious days were filled with hiking, fellowshipping, eating, laughing, crying and praying with each other. We even splurged and had a massage one afternoon. I was again reminded that we serve a God that is the most creative being imaginable. The beauty and majesty of Pikes Peak was breathtaking.
It was our evenings though that I will not forget. We bonded deeply because God’s love was the mortar. Actually, God’s love became the topic of our conversation together. We were reminded again that we are fully loved by God. His love is not based on what we do, what we know, what we own, what we look like. There is nothing that we can do to have God love us more.
The question is: Do we really believe this? Do we live our lives based on this promise? If God loves us fully and completely then our lives and our actions and our thoughts toward self and others should always be a reflection of God’s love. Loving ourselves and others as God loves us is not based on what others say or do to us. It is not based on how we are feeling or what we are thinking. It is based on the reality of the incredible love God has lavished upon us.
Time in creation or with other believers is so important, but for me the transforming key to genuinely reflecting His love is more time with Him. How about you? Have you taken time away lately, by yourself or with others, to let His love overwhelm you again? SonScape Retreats exists to be such a place.
John 13:34 . . . “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.“