Being Perfectly Loved

Just look at these 64 radiant women, all aglow with God's PERFECT love shining through, after the most amazing 4 days of enrichment and basking in such epic and special times together. Sincerely, those 4 days were life-changing in so many ways. Our love for God, and His love for us, went to a another level as we praised and worshipped Him together.

One of the highlights of the retreat was hearing Msgr Dan Mueggenborg speak these words of Jesus "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48) Then he said, "There you go, someone else is expecting you to be perfect. Your parents, your husband, your children, your boss -- all expect you to be perfect, and if that isn't enough....NOW GOD!" To that, the chapel was filled with women bursting into laughter. He went on to describe how the world portrays beauty and perfectionism by the way we should look -- all polished, manicured, slim and trim, dressed to the T and carrying ourselves fully together and PERFECT.

But the fact is -- we are all less-than-perfect. Does God really expect us to be perfect as He is perfect? How is that possible? The God Who IS Love made us in His image. We were made to love as He loves. Colossians 2:10 says "And you are complete in Him (Christ)....." By that one word "complete", we're shown that we have in Christ whatever is required of us. 1 John 4:16 says "God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God abides him." We'll never, on our own, be perfect on this side of heaven, but as we live in Him, the PERFECT ONE, we have the ability to love as He loved. Perfection becomes an ongoing goal -- day-by-day, year-by-year. Not in the world's sense, but on our own journey to become perfected in love (God is love) and to grow in becoming more like Him -- the PERFECT ONE.

"Make me more like You, Jesus. Make me more like You. Give me a heart that's filled with love, and make me more like You."

Give Your Family and Friends "The Perfect Gift for Christmas"

I keep getting email messages that the subject line reads, "Give your family and friends "THE PERFECT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS".  I was deleting most of those and not even finding out what they meant until yesterday.  THE PERFECT GIFT???  A Gift Card.  And, I thought, yes, gift cards are great because you can buy anything you want.  But, why not just give someone cash?  What's the big deal of the PERFECT GIFT being a Gift Card?  I'm really grateful for any gift that comes to me, but I receive, and have even given, gift cards to stores that just maybe the receiver of the gift card just doesn't shop there.....and then when you get to the store and start looking.....it takes FOREVER to find something there you want to use the gift card for.  PERFECT?  I don't think so.

I think you know where I'm headed with that observation.  THE PERFECT GIFT?  That ONLY PERFECT GIFT we could ever give, is that of HIM, Who is the PERFECT One, Who isn't a tangible "thing", but is the ALL in ALL, BEGINNING and END of joy, comfort, peace, life, love, happiness, and life everlasting.

So how do we give that PERFECT GIFT to others -- by giving ourselves as peacemakers, servants, joy-peace-hope bearers, by being LIGHTS that this world so needs and wants.  Though Jesus is the ultimate, ever-ready, radiant, source of LIGHT that dispels darkness.....He told us in Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines to all that are in the house.  Even so let YOUR light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Your GIFT this season?   YOU and YOUR LIGHT shining brightly so that others will come to know THE PERFECT GIFT -- Jesus Christ!
#ThePerfectGift #LightOfTheWorld