Living the Fruitful Life: Yearlong Devotional

By Dianne Myers Haneke PhD

Who is God? What is He like? What does God desire us to become? How does He want us to live? This yearlong devotional clarifies these questions for you by meditating on the fruit of the Spirit and ten parallel New Testament passages. It takes twenty-one days to make a habithow about twenty-eight to thirty-one days of love, joy, peace? Might we better grasp God and His desires? Weekly focuses guide us closer to Almighty God.

This great guide to help us pray through the fruits of the spirit and understand them better. Practical actions guide us to see more of the fruit of Gods Spirit in our lives.
Jeremy Story, President of Campus Renewal Ministries

Dianne Haneke is a long-time friend. I value her and her husband, John. They have lived Psalm 84:57, and Diannes book is able to help and inspire others on their lifes journey.
Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent, General Council, Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri

We encourage you to embark on this devotional journey with Dianne as she shares words of wisdom to equip you to flourish in your Christian walk.
Pastors Rob and Laura Koke, Shoreline Church, Austin, Texas

I have always enjoyed Diannes work. This devotional is well written and inspiringmaking me look forward to my devotional time each day. I am encouraging all my parishioners to read it!
David Scott, Pastor of Family of Hope Church, Saugerties, New York

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Jul 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781462410095

Dianne Myers Haneke PhD

Professor Emeritus of Literacy Education, Dr. Dianne Haneke thoroughly enjoys writing materials inspiring people to deepen their personal relationship with God. Her math-science mindset organizes her writings into succinct, user-friendly pieces including this sixth book. She and her husband, John, have three adult children and eight grandchildren. Retired, Hanekes enjoy music, motor-homing, and photography. She is based near Austin, Texas.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 Dianne Myers Haneke PhD.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Inspiring Voices

1663 Liberty Drive

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www.inspiringvoices.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1008-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1009-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014911451

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 07/31/2014

Contents

Resources

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Additional Endorsements

Preface

January: Love

February: Joy

March: Peace

April: Patience/Longsuffering

May: Kindness

June: Goodness

July: Faith/Faithfulness

August: Meekness

September: Self-Control/Temperance

October: Truth

November: Mercy

December: Hope

Epilogue

Bible Version Comparison Chart

Ten Parallel Passages Chart

About the Author

Resources

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. AMPL

Scripture taken from American Standard Version. ASV

Scripture taken from Good News Bible. GNB

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible. KJV

Scripture taken from Living New Testament. LNT

All Scripture quotations in this publications are from The Message. Copyright (c) by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. MESS

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org). NASB

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ All rights reserved. NIV

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NKJV

Dedication

This devotional is dedicated to our loving, caring daughter, Julie Ann Haneke Velasco, who went to live with Jesus April 17, 2013, after battling cancer for two years. In her 39 years of life she lived the fruitful life and touched many lives… as a child, as a teen, as an adult, and especially as a Special Education Teacher and Instructional Coach. She impacted lives as coach of volleyball, basketball, and then softball. In her seven some years at Manor High School, Manor TX, she influenced many administrators, faculty, staff, students, and especially athletes as well as parents and community! She is still being remembered this year (2014) by athletic teams at the Manor High School.

I also dedicate this devotional to the rest of our family, all who desperately miss Julie…

Ty Noah, her son (11 years old as of 6/20/14)

Johnny Velasco, her husband (married July 2, 2012)

John and Dianne Haneke, parents

Mark Haneke, older brother

Debra Lindner, older sister; Erik, Alyssa, & Aaliyah Trotter

Aunt Donna & Uncle Milt Reilley

Cousins: Casey Reilley; Kelley, Scott, & Bentley Rollans

John and Tony Velasco, her parents-in-law

Jesse, Yvette Velasco, and Haley & Alex Velasco

Joel, Chelsea, and Olivia & Sebastian Velasco

Melissa (Velasco), Brian & Noah McKinzie

And NY nieces & nephews: Antonio, Angie, & Nico Camporeale.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to each of the following:

Kay Lindskoog for inspiring and encouraging me to write the original draft back in 1983.

Ginny Cleveland, Kathy Doyle and Emily Mockovciak for support and encouragement in the early drafts.

Jacob at Inspiring Voices who kept in touch while I was helping our daughter fight cancer, especially during Home Hospice.

Ashly Taylor, my Inspiring Voices consultant who encouraged me throughout the process.

My family who tolerated Omi holed up in her cave busily writing her latest book, which has been on the back burner since 1983.

Friends who asked to reserve copies while I was still writing this final manuscript this year.

Foreword

By Dr. Cornell Haan,

National Facilitator, Mission America Coalition

Pastor Rick Warren wrote, The Purpose Driven Life, which sold over 32 million copies and has inspired millions to answer the question, What on earth am I here for? Dr. Dianne Haneke, PhD, has written something of a sequel answering the question, Who am I and how can the Fruits of the Spirit change me?

Both Pastor Rick Warren and Dr. Dianne Haneke tragically lost a child in mid-life. The Warrens lost their son, Matthew at age 27. The Hanekes lost their daughter at age 39. Generally, people tend to expect that they will die before their children. When life forces us to bury our dearly loved children, it introduces us to another kind of pain that tests our inner fabric begging us to answer, Who am I? How have I prepared myself for life’s challenges?

Dianne Haneke wrote this book for the purpose of developing your inner strength. Oh, it is not intended to be a quick read, but it a daily feeding for you—your inner strength and the growth of your soul and spirit.

People are like ducks floating smoothly on the surface, but paddling like crazy under the water. We tend to put their best face forward often knowing that underneath the façade panic. Dr. Haneke has discovered how we can utilize the Fruits of the Spirit to experience the blessing of God’s character.

Often we have people surrounding us that we would like to change. You can’t change others! Likely you have tried and failed. You have had a hard enough time changing yourself. Reading and absorbing the daily message in Dianne’s writings is the best way I know with which you have a chance of changing yourself.

May God bless you as you receive God’s Fruit.

Additional Endorsements

If you knew Dianne as well as my wife and I do, you would see the presence of God’s Spirit in her heart and soul. Every book she writes is at the top of the ladder, and still going. Pastor Bill Dropko, Greenacres Christian Fellowship, Spokane WA.

Dianne Haneke presents an in-depth, thought- provoking challenge for life-changing action to live a true Christian lifestyle demonstrating the Fruits of the Spirit. Dr. Don C. Jones, Gresham, OR; Adjunct Professor, Northwest University, Salem Campus.

Focusing on the written and Living Word draws us closer to our Faithful King and Lord who enables us to do what pleases Him. Dianne shares the Word with understanding and encouragement for growth. Lauretta DuBois, retired missionary, Wycliffe Bible Translators in the Philippines.

"Reflecting the nature and character of the Father is to be the mark of a Christian. The insights on the fruit of the Spirit presented bring glory to our God as we let Him apply His Word to our daily lives." James and Eloise Neely, Assemblies of God World Missions since 1970.

"Having known Dianne for 50+ years, we endorse her as a Christian living whole-heartedly the Spirit-filled fruitful life. Her constant quest for spiritual growth and Truth from God’s Word is an inspiration. We look forward to becoming more fruitful in our own lives through reading and practicing Living the Fruitful Life: A Daily Devotional." Drs. Wayne and Judy Cagle, 44 years in Asia Pacific, Assemblies of God World Missions.

It is easy for me to endorse anything Dianne writes because I know not only her writing style, and appreciate it, but her person and her humble deep desire to follow the Lord, which I appreciate even more, having known her for over 50 years. Thus this latest volume will flow with words and as well as heart on the fruit of the Spirit, a familiar text with a fresh perspective. We look forward to using it in our own devotional life. Robert Bayley, D. Min. Minister of Word and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church (USA)

Preface

Living the Fruitful Life is intended to inspire us to a deeper relationship with God, allowing His Holy Spirit to sow and grow the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives allowing others to taste and see that the Lord is good… taste the reality of God’s character… taste and be inspired as we bear His Fruit of the Holy Spirit He has sown in our lives.

If it takes 21 days to establish a habit, what will 28-31 days of immersing ourselves in one of God’s Fruit of the Holy Spirit – actually, His character – do in our lives? Will we be more able to give and receive love after spending 31 days meditating on His love and the love He desires for us to share with others? How about 28 days immersed in joy? Will we come forth more joyful than before we started? Will 31 days of meditating on God’s peace enable us to live more peacefully? I believe so, and that is exactly why I felt led to write this devotional… spending a year studying God’s character, immersed each month in one fruit of the Spirit!

We approach each month in the following manner:

Week one: Receiving God’s Fruit. Week two: Absorbing and digesting the Fruit. Week three: Reflecting the fruit back to God. Week four: Sharing with, showering with, and pouring out the Fruit upon others. We must receive, digest, and absorb before we can reflect God’s fruit back to Him or shower others with it. What an experience we are going to have as we progress through each month! Receive… Absorb… Reflect… and Shower! Enjoy!

I pray for each of you readers that you will experience what it really means to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and Living the Fruitful Life! I urge each of you to read Galatians 5:22 and John 15:1-17 in several translations (if available) before you begin your pursuit of Living the Fruitful Life!

Lest you think this devotional is based on one scripture or passage of scripture, I encourage you to review the following New Testament passages and note the commonality of the fruit described throughout…

1)  Matthew 5:3-12… the Beatitudes – the 8 BE-attitudes.

2)  Romans 5:1-6… Trials work 8 traits/fruit.

3)  1 Corinthians 13:4-7… 9 traits/fruit of God’s love.

4)  Galatians 5:22-23… 9 fruit of the Spirit.

5)  Ephesians 4:1-3… 6 traits/fruit of walking worthy.

6)  Ephesians 4:24-5:2…7 traits of putting on the new man.

7)  Philippians 4:8… 7 think about these things.

8)  Colossians 3:12-17… 14 traits/fruit to put on.

9)  James 3:17… 12 traits/fruit of Godly wisdom.

10)  2 Peter 1:5-7… 8 traits/fruit to add to your faith.

There may be more, but this is what I found so far. As you pursue Living the Fruitful Life, keep in mind that these traits or fruit come as a result of BEING – ABIDING in Him – not at all a matter of doing!!

Be sure to check out the synonyms for each fruit on the title page for each month. You will be glad you did! Your understanding will be enlightened and you can go even deeper.

May God’s richest blessings be upon you as you embark on this rewarding journey!

Lovingly in Christ,

Dianne

Please note: BOLDED and CAPPED key words are author’s highlights, not as written in the original Scripture text.

January

Love

Synonyms for LOVE:

- Intense fondness

- Deep devotion

- Warm affection

- Ties of attachment

Love "beareth all things, believeth all things,

hopeth all things, endureth all things."

1Corinthians 13:7 (KJV)

Love that bears ALL things = forbearance

Love that believes ALL things = faith.

Love that hopes ALL things = hope.

Love that endures ALL things = endurance.

January 1 — Love is Fruit of Spirit

"But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is LOVE, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]." Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPL)

READ: Galatians 5:1-26.

LIFE APPLICATION: The first obvious sign of the indwelling presence of God is love. Throughout the month of January we will meditate on LOVE as the first crop of fruit in our pursuit of the fruit-filled Divine Nature of God in our lives. We will consider various aspects of love as seen in the Scriptures such as: the love of God for man, the love of man for God, and the love of man for man.

Love is a fruit, and fruit, by definition, is a plant product usually eaten. Love, then, is an outgrowth of God’s life poured forth from the Vine for the nourishment of others. Surely our families, friends and loved ones are the primary benefactors of the fruit in our lives, though others also have the privilege of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good through the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Fruit can do nothing to make itself grow. As it abides in the Vine, the fruit is a natural outcome. John 15 tells us about fruit, more fruit, and much fruit as well as pruning to increase the fruit production. Love springs forth in our lives similarly as a Fruit of the Spirit as we abide in the LORD.

PRAYER: Father God, as we meditate on the Your fruit of love this month, enable us to experience giving and receiving Your abundant, unconditional love. In Jesus’ beloved and holy name we pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 2 – Receiving God’s Love

"For God so greatly LOVED and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so

That whosoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him

Shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost)

But have everlasting life."

John 3:16 (AMPL)

READING: John 3:1-36.

LIFE APPLICATION: Before we can delve deeper into bearing the Fruit of the Spirit – Love, we must first grasp and embrace just how much God loves us – each and every one of us. He is not willing for any of us to perish by not knowing Him, but God desires all people in the world to come to know God loves each of them… just as they are.

Do you personally know God loves you? Do you know He sent His only Son to die in your place, to pay the price for your sins? God desires to freely give you eternal life – abundant life – overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, mercy, grace, truth, self-control? Well, God gives all these freely to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God.

God loves you deeply and unconditionally. He will forgive all your sins, no matter what they might be, and He says He will bury them in the deepest sea. If you have never before received His love and His forgiveness, will you do so today? I have been there and done that. God wants to do the same for you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I accept your love and forgiveness right now. Please come into my heart, forgive all my sins, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I choose to live for You from this day forward. I look forward to learning more about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit which You desire to impart to me and to show others through my life. In Your lovely name I pray. Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL: Today I learned…

January 3 – Receiving God’s Love

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears MUCH FRUIT; for without Me you can do nothing."

John 15:1 & 6 (NKJV)

READING: John 15:1-17

LIFE APPLICATION: Here I see four states of fruit-bearing: no fruit, fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. Where there is no fruit, what does God the Father (Husbandman) do? He cuts off and burns. If any fruit, what does Father Vinedresser do? He prunes, purges, tests, and tries it. Why? Pruning, purging, testing, and trying strengthen the branch to bring forth MORE and MUCH FRUIT.

I vividly recall the ending of the deepest depression I ever suffered. Perplexed as to why I was going through all this turmoil of life, I cried out to God for some answers… Lord, what’s the answer? I sobbed. Abide in Me. His replied. But I thought I was abiding, I blubbered. You are. said the still small voice. Well, then, what is going on? sniffling and puzzled. I am pruning you so you will bring forth more fruit and much fruit, the Lord gently replied. Oh… I sobbed … a mixture of relief (some horrible thing had not overtaken me), amusement, and joy (God thought I was worth pruning). Be a greater partaker of His Divine Nature and character qualities and virtues. Abide in Him. Fruit (God’s character and virtues) come as a result of abiding.

PRAYER: Father, create in me your Divine Nature. Develop your character in me. Prune me so I can bear more of the fruit of Your Holy Spirit in my life for others to enjoy. In Jesus’ wonderful name I pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL: Lord, help me…

January 4 – Receiving God’s Love

"And now abide faith, hope, LOVE, these three;

but the greatest of these is LOVE."

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)

READING: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

LIFE APPLICATION: Do you believe in God? Yes, you respond. Super! That’s great! Do you believe in Jesus? Absolutely! you say. Have you ever taken Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life by confessing your sins to Him and asking His forgiveness? Well, I think so, you hesitate. Well, then let’s begin here… confess your sins to God; ask His forgiveness; accept His forgiveness; and you are now born again! Or you have responded, Yes, Ma’am. I accepted Christ as my Savior December 1 in 1952. Fantastic!

Do you have faith in God that He is all He says He is and He will do all He says He will do? We are all somewhere along the continuum of faith… no faith to little faith to some faith to lots of faith. Is your hope based on God or on your own abilities?

How much do you love God? Love others? Love yourself? Actually, all of those depend upon how much you are convinced that God loves you. Without the confidence that God loves you unconditionally, you find it difficult to love yourself in a Godly manner, much less love God and others. Yet, the greatest of faith, hope, and love is love.

Will you join me on this trek to learn more about God and His love for all of us? I would love to travel this journey with you! Let’s do it together!

PRAYER: Father God, help me to always be mindful that no matter how much faith and hope I have, love champions all. Love is the most important of all. I desire all the love You have for me. Help me to be confident in Your love for me, so I can truly love You and others. In the lovely Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 5 – Receiving God’s Love

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye LOVE one another;

As I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,

If ye have LOVE one to another." John 13:34-35 (KJV)

READING: John 13:31-35 and Mark 12:28-34.

LIFE APPLICATION: Four things stand out to me: 1) I have no options presented as to whether or not I should love others. I am commanded to love others. Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments, with the Law of Love saying, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…and thy neighbor as thyself. He closed with, There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31) I want to be mindful that love is a commandment not to be taken lightly or considered optional.

2) "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…" (Mark 12:29). Love God first with all you have… heart, soul, mind, spirit, body.

(3) Love one another as I have loved you reminds me to love others, especially the Body of Christ, in a manner like Jesus loves me. His love for me is unconditional, without any strings attached, and inexhaustible. Nothing can separate me from the Love of God, and I need to love my family and friends in such a way that nothing can cause me to love them any less.

(4) By this (love) all men (people) shall know that you are my disciples (followers), if (when) you… love…one another. Our unconditional, enduring love for one another causes all people around us to know we are followers, students of Jesus Christ. By the love they feel or observe, people might say, There goes a Christian. Look how much she loves!

Let’s journey together. Ready? Set? Let’s go together!

PRAYER: Lord, teach me and enable me to love others in the way You have loved me… unconditionally. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 6 – Receiving God’s Love

"but God turned the curse into a blessing to you,

Because the Lord your God LOVES you."

Deuteronomy 23:5 (AMPL)

For God’s LOVE has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

Romans 5:5 (AMPL)

READING: Romans 5:1-21.

LIFE APPLICATION: Even after reading several scriptures about how much God loves us, sometimes we still just don’t get it! We have two more days to grasp the immense, pure, unconditional, forgiving, caring, sharing love God has for each of us, including you and me.

We can PRAY, pray, and pray some more for God to make this revelation clear to each of us.

We can CHOOSE at face value to accept all God has said about loving us. He said it! I believe it!

We can ASK Christians who seem rooted in God’s love for them, just how they got to that place I wish you well in your journey, and it is a journey; I know! Been there! Done that! Still learning! But it is a joyful journey!

Will you join me on this journey of faith to learn more about God’s love? Let’s do it together!

PRAYER: Father God, God of Love, please help me fully grasp how much you love me, so I can accept myself and love myself in a Godly manner. In Jesus’ Blessed and holy name I pray. Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 7 – Receiving God’s Love

"He who does not LOVE has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is LOVE."

1 John 4:8, 16 (AMPL)

‘BELOVED, if God LOVED us so [very much],

we also ought to LOVE one another." I John 4:11 (AMPL)

READING: 1 John 4:1-25.

LIFE APPLICATION:

God not only teaches us how to love, but God IS love. God is the epitome of love. He is the very essence of love. His very essence is love. He IS love.

No wonder a fruit of the Spirit which springs forth in our lives as we abide in Him is LOVE — the very core of the Divine Nature of God. God is love, and as we partake of Him and are filled more and more with the fullness of Him, we partake of Love and are filled more and more with the fullness of His LOVE.

How can we learn more about and really KNOW God is love? Well, how do we learn that people love us? Yes, spending time together. Same with God – we really get to KNOW His love and how much He loves us as we spend more time with Him and with His communication, His Word, the Bible.

Just accept it! God loves you wholeheartedly – just as you are! Furthermore, you choose to follow Him and He will always love you throughout eternity!

Will you join me on this journey to learn more about God and His love? Love to have you come along! Let’s do it!

PRAYER: Father God, please show me more clearly that You are love, and show me the fullness of what Your love is all about. I desire so much more of Your love every day! In Jesus’ much loved name I pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 8 – Absorbing God’s Love

"Honor your father and your mother, and,

You shall LOVE your neighbor as [you do] yourself."

Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19 (AMPL)

READING: Leviticus 19:1-37 or Matthew 19:1-30.

LIFE APPLICATION: This week’s focus is our absorbing God’s gift of love by loving, accepting, and forgiving ourselves wholeheartedly as God guides and direct us in His ways.

We must receive, take in, accept, and absorb – soak up — God’s gifts before we can truly respond to Him with each gift and before we can share and shower His gifts upon others. We must love our self the same way God loves us (in a God-focused manner) before we can really love God wholeheartedly, and we must love and accept ourselves just the way we are – the good and the bad — before we can love our friends and neighbors and others just the way they are. Ouch!! Not always easy to do! (Or am I the only one? Doubt it!).

So, how do we absorb God’s love? 1) We CHOOSE to accept that God really does love us just the way we are, but He also loves us so much He desires to change us to be more like Him and to show others Who He is. 2) We ASK God to help us absorb His love and help us accept and love ourselves just as we are and the way He loves us – not self-centered, but God-centered. 3) We DO it! We absorb God’s love, as well as accept and love ourselves the way God does.

Will you join me on this trek to absorb more and more of God’s love in our innermost being? Let’s do it together!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me accept and love myself the same way you love me — with all my strengths and weaknesses — so I can wholeheartedly love You as well as love and accept others – just the way they are. In Jesus’ holy and blessed name I pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 9 – Absorbing God’s Love

"And a second is like unto it: You shall LOVE your neighbor

as [you do] yourself."

Matthew 22:39 & Mark 12:31 (AMPL)

…There is no other commandment greater than these.

READING: Matthew 22:1-46 and Mark 12:1-44.

LIFE APPLICATION: Loving the Lord our God with all our soul, mind, strength — this is the greatest commandment. We must obey this command given to us by God! Loving our neighbor as our self is the second greatest commandment, and we must obey God’s command.

This means we are commanded to love our selves! Reread it if you are not sure about this. It appears obvious to me that embedded in the greatest of commandments (God’s Words, not mine)… we are commanded to absorb God’s love so we can love ourselves so we can love our self in order to love God and others wholeheartedly!

Just a reminder, to absorb means to suck in, take in, incorporate, assimilate like a sponge soaking up water.

We cannot take God’s commandments lightly! We must obey! So, let get to it… absorb, take in, soak up (like a sponge) God’s love so we can be obedient!

Are you soaking up God’s love deep within your innermost being? Will you join me in this pursuit of more of God and more of His love? Let’s journey together!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, show us the way. Enable us to absorb your love so we can love ourselves, You, and others wholeheartedly Your way! In Jesus’ matchless name we pray, Amen!

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 10 – Absorbing God’s Love

"For the whole Law [concerning human relationships]

is complied with in the one precept,

You shall LOVE your neighbor as [you do] yourself."

Galatians 5:14 & Leviticus 19:18 (AMPL)

READING: Galatians 5:1-26 and Leviticus 19:18.

LIFE APPLICATION: The Whole Law concerning human relationships is [totally] complied with in this one precept. Wow!

To absorb means to take in, soak up, eat or drink it, digest it — until you begin to feel full of it! When you eat healthy foods, you feel the difference in your body… you feel better; you have more energy, and you think clearer. You know eating healthy makes a difference!

The same with absorbing God’s love as well as God’s other gifts, characteristics, and virtues. You will know that you know. You will feel the difference! So, go for it! You are not the only one! I am going for it with you!

Will you join me on this trek to learn more about God and His love? Let’s go for the Gold together!! Or should I say, Let’s go for the Goal, together!!! Let’s do it! Everyoone will be a winner as we pursue more and more of God and His love.

PRAYER: Father God, God of Love, show us more and more about absorbing Your Love in our innermost being so we can obey this greatest of the Commandments. Enable us to wholeheartedly love You, love others, and appropriately love ourselves. In Your Holy and Beloved Name, we pray, Amen.

PERSONAL RESPONSE JOURNAL:

January 11 – Absorbing God’s Love

"May you be rooted deep in LOVE and founded

securely on LOVE, that you may have the power and be strong

to apprehend and grasp with all the saints

(God’s devoted people, the experience of that LOVE)

what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];"

Ephesians 3:17-19 (AMPL)

READING: Ephesians 3:1-21

LIFE APPLICATION: How can we know something that passes knowledge? Per Amplified Bible, we experience God’s love, which is more valuable than just knowing. May our lives be rooted and grounded securely on the love of God! May our roots grow down deeper and deeper into His abundant, inexhaustible, everlasting love. May we be firmly and securely dug deeply into the soils of His love, a secure foundation in Him so He can safely build spiritual sky-scrapers in and through our lives. By spiritual sky-scrapers I don’t mean buildings and monuments to glorify us. I mean a strong foundation of our lives in His love so that whatever part of His Kingdom He builds in and through our lives will stand, will prosper, and will bring much glory to Him!

Will you join me in asking God to make us spiritual skyscrapers for His glory and