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Author Archives: sneuhofer
- Does real and unconditional love exist?
  
  Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on May 24, 2018
  Isaiah 54:20 (NCV) “The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; my promise of peace will not come to an end,” says the Lord who shows mercy to you.
  
  I awoke this morning with the words of David Crowder’s song, “He Love Us,” playing in my head (see the verse and chorus at the end of this post or listen to the song now). What a great way for me to start my day…even at 3:30 am. Not sure why God had me up at 3:30 this morning other than to spend some alone time with me and tell me He loves me. I so needed to hear those words from Him this morning – yes even when it’s the middle of the night to some.
  
  Think about it…the God of the universe…who put the stars in the sky, woke me up to say “I love you.” Truthfully, He loves you that much too. Do you believe it? It’s the truth…the Bible tells us of His love for us over and over throughout its chapters. I have included a few passages in Scripture to reference. So I guess what I’m trying to say to day is when you’re feeling unloved by everyone, God loves you…today, tomorrow and in the future…without reservation, without condition, and without a doubt.
  
  Psalm 136:1 (NCV) Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever.
  
  Ephesians 3:18 (NCV) And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.
  
  The ultimate display of God’s love for us is found in the next three scripture passages:
  
  Romans 5:8 (NCV) But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
  
  1 John 4:10 (NCV) This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.
  
  John 3:16 – 18 (MSG) “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
  
  Partial lyrics to He Loves Us by David Crowder:
  
  We are His portion and He is our prize
  
  Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
  
  If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking
  
  Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
  
  And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
  
  I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
  
  When I think about, the way…
  
  That He loves us
  
  Oh how He loves us
  
  Oh how He loves us
  
  Oh how He loves
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  Posted in God's love | 0 Comments
- The Love of Jesus Shines Through His People
  
  Posted at 9:15 am by sneuhofer, on May 23, 2018
  Romans 13:8-10 (NCV) Do not owe people anything, except always owe love to each other, because the person who loves others has obeyed all the law. The law says, “You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not want to take your neighbor’s things.” All these commands and all others are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law.
  
  When I read over Romans 13:8 this morning, my mind went back to the very first Sunday I walked through the doors at the church I currently attend. That morning, I was just trying to hide the fact that I had seen the bottom of the Jack Daniels bottle the night before but the people in the lobby of the church didn’t see that at all. They saw someone who was hurting and desperately in need of finding hope and healing. As my Dad introduced me to people he knew, they welcomed me like I was one of their own. Instead of a judging glance, they were full of warm smiles and hugs. I could feel the love just oozing out of them…and I must say it felt different. Never had I been to a church where I felt as loved as I did that morning and I couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that these people didn’t even know me.
  
  So why would a group of people open their arms in such a manner to a stranger?
  
  What is “love” anyway? A feeling?
  
  No, it’s an action. It is something that we must do. We must love because God first loved us.
  
  John wrote in 1 John (9-12 – MSG) that we are to love because God first loved us. He (God) showed us the measure of His love by sending his one and only son to die for our sin so that we might live through him.
  
  Jesus also commands us to love one another. John 13:34 says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
  
  The men and women in the lobby that morning were so full of love for Jesus that it not only came out in the words they said, it poured out of them through their actions and in truth (1 John 3:18 MSG). I was blown away and I knew right then I wanted to get to that same place in my own life. I wanted a life of love instead of the guilt and shame that buried me in the pit I had been hiding in for years.
  
  This changed didn’t happen over night for me…but it did happen! It all started with that morning with people who loved Jesus and were willing to share that love with anyone who walked through the doors.
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  Posted in Christian community, God's love | 1 Comment
- Being Still is the hardest part
  
  Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on May 21, 2018
  Psalm 46:10 (NCV) God says, “Be still and know that I am God.”|
  
  I had another “a-ha” moment with God the other day thanks to a catchy jingle I heard on television. I think it was for a local car dealership, but my mind didn’t wander to cars or the amenities I need in one. Instead, I found myself thinking about a point I had heard in a sermon a few months back. Strange how God works sometimes isn’t it? Anyway, the jingle went something like this “I want it all, and I want it now!” Advertisers…they have an uncanny knack of feeding the “I must have it all and I must have it right now” craving don’t they?
  
  I have to admit, when I “WANT” to do something, especially when it’s something I am passionate about, I tend to lean in the “I WANT IT NOW” direction. Most of the time, I’ve ended up falling flat on my face. Not because I haven’t tried hard enough mind you, but because I was trying to take “shortcuts” to get there. I was trying to go on my own time table and in my own strength and not relying on God’s strength or His timing. What my “I want it right now” mentality failed to realize is that God wasn’t done with the “preparation and equipping” phase of my training. “Ah!” there’s the essential key I kept missing to reach my desired goal.
  
  Having taken the “I WANT IT NOW” test a time or two, I FINALLY decided to take a step back and look at what I believe God has called me to do. During many stages of my growth in Christ, I have asked myself questions such as:
  - What is God’s purpose for my life on this Earth?
  - What specific task does He want me to accomplish?
  - Am I fully equipped for what He has called me to do?
  If the answer is “NO” or “I’m not sure” to these questions then God is, more than likely, calling me to something more specific.
  
  So, through prayer and seeking His guidance, I need to listen for His voice telling me to move forward. Until He moves me, I have to go back to the waiting phase. During the wait, I have take steps to begin further developing the gifts God gave me so that I can become more specific about my purpose.
  
  This time, while I’m in the equipping phase (whether it’s 10 days or 10 years) you won’t catch me sitting idle. I will continue to seek for the wisdom, guidance, direction, and peace that can only come from Him. I will trust, obey, and P-U-S-H! (Pray-Until-Something-Happens) Instead of “rushing out” ahead of Him and falling flat on my face, I’m waiting on His perfect timing.
  
  Is there something that you’re passionate about doing but for some reason things aren’t working out the way you thought they would? You may be in the equipping phase too. Learn all that you can while you are there. Continue to praise God with all that you are and all that you have. Then when you’ve done all you need to do…wait on His timing…it’s always perfect!
  
  Psalm 5-3 Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.
  
  Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help.
  
  Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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  Posted in equipping, prayer in all circumstances, waiting | 2 Comments
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Author Archives: sneuhofer

Does real and unconditional love exist?

Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on May 24, 2018

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The Love of Jesus Shines Through His People

Posted at 9:15 am by sneuhofer, on May 23, 2018

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Being Still is the hardest part

Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on May 21, 2018

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