There is a belief that everybody knows how to love. That belief would be false. Everybody knows how to breathe, blink, and chew. God doesn’t tell us what we already know. He tells us what we need to know and learn.

If we’re not learning how to love, and love better, we are making a mess of our relationships, and hurting the people in them – ourselves included. If you are in a place where you don’t want love, can’t give love, can’t find love nowhere, no-how, or don’t know what love is, you are not the only one. People have struggled with loving well since the beginning of time. Learning to love well, though, changes the most bleak situations into blessings. So what is love, anyway?

Love: (1) the energy, fuel or currency one person chooses to give to another person for their benefit, progress, or uplifting, (2) the investment of oneself into another in order to sustain a developing, fruitful relationship. Love is not a feeling. It is sacrificing time and energy for the benefit of others. Because we are imperfect and by nature selfish, we can be engaging in very unloving ways – which again can do long lasting damage all around. The great news, is that there is GOOD NEWS. Every day we are granted the privilege of life, we have a chance to love better. here’s how to start:

• acknowledge where you are with loving God, others, yourself
• ask God to help you love better
• share with a trustworthy friend, spouse or family member, your desire to want to love better and to give you objective feedback on how you’re engaging with others
• if necessary find a trustworthy counselor to help you with any trauma you may have encountered which impacts your ability to love
• make sure you are engaged in a biblically based, healthy church so you can hear from God through the teaching and fellow Christians to help you in your journey of loving well

Your relationships and feelings will not change overnight, but when you begin a walk of loving well, they will change. Stay on the road. What’s the other choice? Walking a road of loving poorly, hatred, selfishness, competition, jealousy, gossip, envy? Who wants that? Today is always a great day for love. The world so desperately needs it.

It’s hard to realize and hold onto just how much God loves us so we hold onto the memories our faults and sin trying to prove we’re unlovable rather than walking in the freedom, grace, and good works He created us for. There’s nothing in the world like being free in Jesus. Nothing!!!

I dare your to embrace the Grace of God. Take inventory of everything and anything that may be keeping you from the freedom to live and love well. Write it down. Stare at those things and tell them they re liars. Lift them to God and ask Him to help you renew t=your thinking about who you are in Him. Then push your shoulders back, don your beautiful smile and walking like you mean what God says you are. Yes, there will be people wondering and some may even whisper, “who does she think she is?” At that, smile wider, knowing by God’s great gift of grace, you are set free to walk in the good works God prepared for you to walk in. Many have willingly gave up their freedom so that we can live in ours, today.

Jesus said to her, “But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.”

Father I pray everyone listening right now will worship You in spirit and truth. Help us, Lord to understand the freedom and gift of grace You provide us to walk in the good works You’ve prepared for us. Lord, I pray Your Presence will empower every woman to do all that’s needed to be spiritually and emotionally healthy so she can walk worthy of the calling to which You’ve called her. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

This weeks day by day inspirations will begin with some words of hope and healing for the stories that are in the news and twitter feeds, of the number of women it is estimated to have been sexually abused by people in the church.

The level and depth of pain associated with these headlines, only God knows, but I have no doubt it is greater than what is being reported since most people who are traumatized never say anything.  Such behavior and its cover up is a complete disgrace.

If your life has not been impacted by this trauma, praise and thank God, right now – and share this message of hope with someone who has.

If sexual assault is part of your story- I have a few words of hope for you today:

It’s absolutely OK not to read or engage with the stories. You do NOT have to listen or tune in. Stay in a place where you feel protected and safe if that’s what’s needed for you.

I know how unhealed trauma makes it difficult to mother or love.  If you are a mother, and you have unhealed trauma, I encourage you to find a trustworthy, reliable counselor or support group to begin the healing process. joining a support group was pivotal for me. I found a safe place to share my story, and it was extremely instrumental in my healing process.

Those – ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH – who commit such horrendous acts are in no way, shape or form representative of God! Jesus Christ IS the exact representation of God’s character and His love for women is clear, obvious, and overwhelmingly beautiful and welcoming.  You matter to God. Your life matters to Him. He still has a grand purpose for your life. I pray you don’t let anything stop you from having the life of joy, friendships, hope and love you are intended to have – – even though disgraceful harm may have been done to you.

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You.” Psalm 9:9-10

Prayer:
Lord, God,, in light of all the women you already knew, that have been violated in such a disgraceful and painful way, I pray You would be their comfort every second of every day. I pray, Lord that when she doesn’t know where to turn, she finds You, she senses Your powerful presence with her. Be present like never before with her, Lord as she makes her way through her day as a mother, worker, wife, wherever she goes, God. Be her comfort Lord. And give wisdom Lord to those who have women in their lives who may have been so traumatized.

Lord, let Your justice reign today, and every day.

And remember:
Before you can love anyone else you have to love you
Before you can love you, you have to Know Love,
Love, is waiting for you…at the well..

Oh, the joys of those who do not

follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners,

or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the LORD,

meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither,

and they prosper in all they do.

There is no shortage of advice, today. When you NEED to know what to do for a situation you’re facing, you can pick up a book, call a friend, turn to old faithful – Google – that will bring up pages with link after link, trying to hook you into buying something. Many of the answers given contradict each other, and over time they contradict themselves. Some of the advice is down right awful and if we follow it, may make things worse.

When you need wisdom to make a life decision (who to marry, whether to comply with a “sketchy” request, if a friend is the right fit, how to keep your sanity while dealing with a horrifying situation at work, etc..), there is ONLY one place to go if you want fail proof advice: To The One Who Is All, Knows All, and Is All Truth. Others may think it’s a joke or foolish to believe: (1) the Bible is true, (2) that it still applies today, or that (3) God would speak to us. Mockers are all around. For them we can only pray they will come to know The One who gave them the brain, capability and free will to even form their own opinions.

I don’t know what you’re in need of today, but, delight in what God has spoken. His Word is True. Unlike anything else, it has lasted throughout eternity and is always relevant. Stand firm, my sister. In due time, your choice to trust Him and understand His Ways for your life, will flower and bear fruit for all to see. Stand firm.

Lord, open the hearts of everyone listening to receive, rejoice and stand firm in Your Word, no matter what it looks or feels like.

Today’s words at the well are: The Voice.

I am an avid fan of the television show, The Voice. Listening to the singing of some of the contestants brings me to my feet for a couple of reasons. One is because the singing is always so good, whether the contestants make it onto the show or not. Another reason is because those brave singers who walk through the huge doors with “The Voice” painted across it, stand on a stage in front of millions of people, confident in their gift, supported by loved ones, offstage, cheering them on.

You have a voice too.

One that needs to be heard. Whether you stand in front of millions or not. Whether you have people on the sidelines cheering you on, or not. Maybe it’s not a “singing” voice, but it is a voice, with a tone, and sounds that rise from the depths of your emotions, personality and experiences. And, just as those with singing voices fine tune their instruments to make sure what comes out is pleasing, we too have to fine tune our voices by making sure what comes out is uplifting and edifying to our husbands, our children, our neighbors, co-workers and ourselves. Our voice (the sighs, the volume, the tone, the words) is the temperature read of our heart and soul.

Here’s a think about it exercise for today:

Pay attention to the temperature of your voice. Are you burning people up with it? Or are you freezing people? Is it completely shut off? Listen to what comes out of your mouth. The sighs. The laughter. The daggers. The questions. The sarcasm. The pleads.

I hope you find a quiet place today, a well, to sit for just a few minutes to ask God to show you the truth about the temperature of your voice.

The Samaritan woman arose, leaving the man she was with, behind, push past the doors of where she lived, to take a walk to the well. Jesus Christ, was on His way somewhere else, when He said, “He had to go to Samaria.” Sending the others who were with Him away, He walked to the well to wait for her, The Samaritan woman. To hear her voice and talk with her. My sister, He’s waiting for you, today. At the well. To hear your voice. To talk with you.

Lord I pray You would speak to the heart of every woman listening to this. I pray You would give her a glimpse of the uniqueness and power of her voice. I pray Father for any woman whose words, utterings and voice are not what she wants them to be, You would begin transforming her voice into the beautiful instrument you created it to be. Lord, grant her the confidence and support she needs to push past the doors where she resides to walk wherever it is she has to go.

You are invited to join us every Thursday @ 8:00 for a time of prayer for mothers – wisdom to raise children, emotional support, reconciled relationships, the stamina to stand, and more.

Here are the call in details or you can e-mail: [email protected].

In the meantime, remember:

Before you can love anyone else, you have to love you

Before you can love you, you have to know Love

Love is waiting for you, at the well. 💜

What do we do when we are avoided because of who we are, what we look like, others’ opinions on where we live or whatever else? Like The Samaritan Woman, we walk to the well.

Before you are a wife, mother, sister, aunt, you are a woman created in the image and likeness of God! You ARE a masterpiece.

Imagine what your life would be like without the weight of guilt, past mistakes, or hurts weighing you down. This one step can make the difference in you walking in your gifts, talents and blessings.

PIE – Prayer, Inspiration, Encouragement For Christian Mothers #1004