Five Minute Friday: Deep

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes.  Today's word is Deep.

Begin 5 minutes.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.-Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

Paul prayed this prayer over the church at Ephesus.  I had this prayer on my wall for a really long time.  It probably needs to go back up!

In the prayer, he prays that they, they church at Ephesus, along with all the Lord's holy people, that is you and I, if you are a Believer, would grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus.  This is an awesome prayer.  

Deep.  That word means not shallow.  If we look it up in the Greek, I am sure we will get a greater understanding and meaning of what Deep really means.

When I picture Deep, I picture myself in water over my head, where my feet cannot touch the bottom.  I am floating, surrounded by the water.  

Paul prayed that we would know how Deep is the love of Christ.  We are floating in it.  It surrounds us on ever side.  It is over our heads.  Our feet cannot touch the bottom.  We are completely covered in His love with no way of escaping.

In another passage of scripture Paul says nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ.  If you have the same image of being in deep, deep water that is surrounding you, you can see why Paul would say that.

My prayer today is just like Paul's, that we would be able to grasp how deep the love of Jesus is, and just to let ourselves drown in that love.  That love doesn't remove our oxygen, but gives us life, just like a baby floating in the amniotic fluid in the mom's womb.  

Deep.

End 5 minutes.

The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional by Sandra Byrd

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.-Matthew 13:45-46

I love devotionals.  When I began following the Lord again in my early twenties, I spent lots of time reading devotionals.  That was one of the ways I learned about God.  

I recently had the opportunity to read Sandra Byrd’s new devotional, The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional. Sandra has so much wisdom to share  that it is a joy to read her words and her stories.  Each devotional is very warm and inviting, and speaks of the Father inviting you into relationship with Him.

In her new book, you will find wisdom, encouragement, and learn about a lot of different stuff!  In a devotional entitled “Fire Power”, Sandra connected some dots for me between events in the Old Testament, and the New.  In another devotional, I was reminded that when Jesus walks into a situation, it always changes for the better. There are book lists, recipes, and an idea for an Advent activity with your family at Christmas as well.  

As I read, I often highlight or underline passages that are meaningful to me.  In "Understanding Down Under", a devotional on friendship, I highlighted these words.  It reminded me of a very close friend of mine who was my roommate at Bible school.  Though we are now far apart in distance, she is still very close in heart.

My summer circumstances often coincide with a stark time in a friend's life.  I'll share my sun to give her the warmth she needs, and she'll do it for me later, when my winter blows in-for a season-before spring arrives again.  That way, we're always dividing the grief and sharing the joy together.  He loves us both, and both through each other.  That's God's design for friendship.

The love of God is the most important subject we can learn about.  1 John 4:8 says, “God is Love.”  It is not merely what He does, but who He is.  Love is also why God sent Jesus.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life.”  Love is the heartbeat and foundation for everything God does.

I recommend this devotional to anyone who wants to get to know God better. Whether you are a seasoned Believer, just starting out, or haven’t really come to know God yet, you will be encouraged, strengthened, and loved by the words in this book.  

Many blessings to you as you learn to walk in His love for you,

Beth

To read my review of The One Year Home & Garden Devotions by Sandra Byrd, please go here.

To learn more about the author, you can visit her at her website www.sandrabyrd.com.

Disclosure Statement:  I received a copy of this devotional from the publisher in exchange for my review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

By This

"By this shall all know that ye are disciples of mine, if ye have love amongst yourselves."-John 13:35, Darby Bible Translation

Love. That is how Jesus said that ALL men would know we were following him. Love amongst ourselves. That means love in the Body of Christ, Love amongst other BELIEVERS.

What is "Love?" Well, the Bible says God is love (1 John 4:16.) But what does Love look like? In 1 Corinthians 13, we find a clear definition of what Love should look like. This is what the God's Word Translation says,

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant. It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs. It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.


Today I want us to think about this defintion of Love in light of our own relationships. Is this what your relationship looks like with your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, and in light of John 13:35, members of your church or other believers you are friends with?