Tag Archive for: Loved

You Are Radiant

Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Psalm 34:5  ESV

 

Radiant. What a word. David, the author of the Psalms, did not use the word beautiful, joyful, or even happy. He used radiant. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, radiant is defined as:

radiant

adjective | ra·di·ant  | \ˈrā-dē-ənt\

1a: radiating rays or reflecting beams of light
1b: vividly bright and shining : glowing
2: marked by or expressive of love, confidence, or happiness

radiant smile

3a : emitted or transmitted by radiation
3b : emitting or relating to radiant heat

 

My favorite definition of radiant is “vividly bright and shining : glowing.” It gives a glowing visual of the way we all will be in heaven, and on top of that, Christ promises to make us like that now! He will enable us to radiate to the world around us, and through that, people will see that we have hope in Jesus Christ. For we, as Christ followers, are not looking to this world, our families, or even to our careers, but to Christ!

Through Isaiah 40:31, Jehovah-Jireh (“The Lord Will Provide”) gives us a promise when we hope in Him: “For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will run and not grow faint.” He promises to take care of us when we hope in Him! We are constantly surrounded by all the promises he gives us and all we have to do is to accept them!

So as you run your race throughout the day, remember to hope in the Lord and that He will make your face RADIANT!

Love,

Isabella

Trade Your Guilt For His Grace

She said, “Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don’t  deserve it. You’ve touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don’t even belong here!” ~Ruth 2:13

You Are Cherished

Having worked in the sex industry for six years, I had so much shame and guilt. I did so many horrible things that I lost control of my life. I was a horrible person; I did not care about anything and I lost sight of being a mother. I went into the industry on my own, and just got stuck in that life because the money was addicting. In the midst of that, I was searching for love that I never had from my father. I started when I was 19 years old because I thought I wasn’t smart enough for school.

Six years later, I ended up in jail for armed drug trafficking, the charges I took for a man I thought loved me. I had so much fear for this man because he had beaten me a couple times that I took the charges so he would not be upset with me. After telling the cops I would take full responsibility for everything, I was facing a minimum of three years in prison.

After a week of realizing this guy was not going to bail me out, I broke down and got on my knees and cried out to God. I just told Him all that had happened in my life and I told Him how sorry I was. God was spiritually operating on my heart in jail. You see, I loved that man so much, and at that point in my life I had given my heart to many men in sacrificial ways that in jail I felt worthless.

With a lot of time to think, I started to read the Bible and pray. I learned that, even through my shame from my sex life, my job, my sins, and these charges, Jesus still loved me. I found out that Jesus looks at me as a beautiful woman who does have worth. One day after much thought, I decided to give my life to Jesus and I asked Him to wash all of my sins away. With sincerity, I gave Him my word I would not go back to that life and surrendered my life to Him. It was the most freeing thing I have ever experienced. God gave me GRACE! I know if God can give me grace, He can give you grace, too, because He loves you so much. God loves you more than any man can ever love you! He gave up His only Son Jesus to die for your freedom.

Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!” ~ Luke 8:48

Jesus, I’m sorry for all the bad things I have done. Please rewrite my history and make me new. I believe You died for my sins. My shame is here for You to wipe clean. I love You Jesus and I accept You into my life. Thank You for Your grace upon my life.

I am cherished. I am beautiful. I am valued. I am a new creation and my past does not define me. Today, I will Trade my guilt for His grace. I am priceless!

You Are Forgiven

Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her—because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little. (Luke 7:47, AMPC)

Sin sick… Cursed… Wicked… Forgiven Read more

God’s Beautiful Design

He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP)

A few months ago my husband and I were able to get away for a couple nights to Niagara Falls. It was so beautiful. One of those places that leaves you in awe of God’s majesty. It was truly incredible! While there, we visited a butterfly conservatory. This place left me in awe of God’s design.

God has a beautiful design on each one of our lives. No detail is left out. As we entered the conservatory, I had no idea what I was in for. We stepped into a haven of beauty, I was in awe once again. But this was a different kind of awe. I looked at the details of each butterfly truly amazed by God’s design. Every detail, every color, every dot, and every line on every beautiful butterfly left me amazed.

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I Stand Forgiven

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:11-12

As I celebrate my birthday, I think of how much God has done in my life and how much I’ve been forgiven for.  I’m blessed to be a child of God, living for a Kingdom purpose, with Jesus Christ as my fixed point of reference, and the Holy Spirit as my constant guide.  Yesterday, I turned 36 years old.  I celebrate the many years that God has given me knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.  Truly nothing in life has ever compared to this!  So as I sat and reflected on these thoughts I wrote the following devotional.  I hope you enjoy it!
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