Lord Our Protector

Lord God we look to you, our source of help at all times. You who made Heaven and earth, watch over us always. like a shepherd who guards his flock be our guard protecting us from unseen forces. You who laid down your life to save us, lead us to follow the plan of god in our lives. Make us to prosper and bear fruit according to your word.

Oh Lord we know that you have carved us on the palm of your hand and so no evil will befall us. Lead the way for us just the way you led the nation of Israel to the promised land. We believe that not a hair on our head will be touched without your permission.

Lord we ask you to sit at our right hand and look at us as a bridegroom looks at his beloved. We know that you never get tired looking at your creation.

Lord give us the desire to constantly look into your eyes.

Living Agape

How can we show love of the father in our life?

Love one another as I have loved you. Jn 13:34


We all like to be loved and get favors and blessing from the one who loves us. But do we like to love all around us like God loves us. Unconditional, ever forgiving love. Ready to lay down our life for others?

It is God"s commandment to love another. When we receive His love our cup gets full, but if we do not share what we get, since our cup is full, we stop receiving.

Ask your self. Do you go out of our way to help an old person to cross the road or be good to a person who slandered your name or magnified your weakness in public. A very difficult situation which I find myself in, time and again. The question we need to ask is What would Jesus do in this situation and then act accordingly.

As you have your prayer time do express your inability to love and your desire to want to. Ask for the grace. Gradually but surely the change will happen. You will be surprised at your self, for you begin to acquire the mind of Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father give us the grace to Love all those around us the way you would love them. Help us to be faithful to our prayer time so that we too will acquire the mind of Christ.

AGAPE- Unconditional Love

Here's the next guest post by the talented Adam

“Be the tree that shades the tired, comforts the lonely, and loves the neglected. When it is time, with His love you will bear a fruitful life.”
...

One fine morning, a young boy asked his mother, "Mommy, how much does God love me?"

His mother was surprised at his question. She called him close, looked into his eyes and said, "God loves you with unconditional love."

The boy thought for a little while and asked, "Mommy, what is unconditional love?"

His mother recollected for a few minutes and told him, "Do you remember last week when you broke Mommy's teapot while playing?"

The boy fell silent and nodded.

His mother continued, "Although I got angry for a little while; when you went to your room and started crying, I brought you a glass of milk and some cookies. Do you remember?"

The boy's face lit up. "Yes, I do." he said happily.

His mother told him, "God's love for us is like that, but much better and nicer. If we are ready to receive it, we will be really happy."

The boy thought for some time and told his mother, "I am ready to receive God's love, Mommy."

...

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the satisfaction for our sins."
-John 4:19

The Greeks coined three separate words to mean ‘Love’. They were ‘eros’, ’philios’ and ‘agape’. In Christian theology, Agape is termed as the love of God or Christ for mankind. It also translates to ‘Parental Love’. Rightly so, because His children are showered with his unconditional love. I do think however, that there is a condition imposed.

A wise philosopher once said "Everything that belongs to you will come to you, if you only create the capacity to receive it.” Think about this line again. "Everything that belongs to you will come to you, if you only create the capacity to receive it.” It is true with all of our achievements, our goals and our wishes. It is also true for love. Every ounce of God's love will come to you, if you only create the capacity to receive it. So how does one create the capacity to receive His love?

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud"

-1 Corinthians 13:4

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

A light held to illuminate someone else’s path will surely illuminate your path as well. Any man/woman who learns to give love freely will so receive. It is in serving that one gains the capacity to lead. It is by learning that one earns the capacity to teach. It is by giving love freely that one gains the capacity to receive it.

Jesus once said that the greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is not a process that finds fruit immediately. An exercise will yield strength only if performed regularly and quantified with effort. The capacity to love is similar. Each day we must fill a little unconditional love into someone’s life. It could be your loved ones, an enemy who asks for your help, a stranger in need of a shoulder to cry on – it could be anyone! A little effort each day, and your heart will earn the capacity to receive His love.

So my friends ask yourselves, to whom did you give your unconditional love today?

Adam

The Breath of Life- Guest Post

We have our very first guest blogger at Agape. Adam aka Aashith. I got to know Adam through our blogs. He has 2 blogs Lyrical Melancholy and Thoughts...An attempt at understanding ourselves. Both are an intense expression of himself, one through lyric, the other through verse. He has also written an interesting book, do check it out here. This incredibly talented writer has contributed two wonderful posts to Agape, one in lyric the other in verse. Here's the first post-
It's truly a privilege to have you at Agape Adam!
Job 33:4

"The Spirit of God has made me;
the breath of the Almighty gives me life"


I lived in a time of fear whence,

My wisdom was in abeyance.

It is now I tread in absence of fear,

Wiser that He walks beside me here.



From dust to dust, the truth - an adage,

Molded in form to His own image,

The life He has given can see no real death,

A Life that is not just the passage of breath.


In valleys of shadows, in alleys of dark,

Wisdom ensues His words, akin a spark

That lights a million lamps, all at once,

He shines forth his light on all my runs.


Today I arise to the sounds of the fall,

Chirps and rustles bind them all,

His breath, my life; He will keep giving,

Return to dust I will, but keep on living.

...
The Breath of Life

The Lord's Love in Everyday Life

Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water . He gives me new strength He guides me in the right paths as He has promised.”

When the Lord is my shepherd He builds a relationship of love. He is a person who takes care of every need and ready to lay His life down for us. I will never be left wanting as said in Philippians 4:19 “With all abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all my needs”.

He gives me the rest I and peace when I drink of the living water. When I eat and live on His word my body will be strengthened. He will give me direction in my day to day life as I learn to dwell on his word and seek his help in everything.

Prayer- Heavenly Father help us to follow Your ways, increase our faith and and find joy only in Your presence. Cause us to come to You as a deer pants for water. Lord give us a mind of Christ so that we discern and keep away from people who do not fear the Lord or have faith in you. Help us to have the right relationship with people around us as we grow in our relationship with You.

When we grow by the living water may each one us bear the fruits of the spirit. Be prosperous in whatever we do. Experience healing of our body mind and soul wisdom to know what is right and wrong .

Deliver us from our fears and keep our mind clear of trivial things so that our thoughts will be focused only on You. May the Lord reign our soul and mind and all thoughts and action be led by you alone. Know fully well that you Oh Lord God is besides us during good times and bad times. As we move with our focus on You alone nothing will be impossible and all our troubles seems nothing for our lives will be effortless. For You alone our God.

Almighty God is a Father and mother to us.!

Love and compassion of our heavenly father is like a firm father and a tender mother. In the Parable of the Prodigal son Luke 15: 20 “So while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”.

This is how our heavenly father loves us. He gives us freedom to choose. When we make mistakes, when we sin and go far away from him or even disown him he waits patiently for he knows his love will draw his children unto himself. One step towards him is enough to bring him joy and he will run to us and restore us.

Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you”. The tender side of him is a close comparison to that of a loving mother. God the Father has both the qualities. He will speak to our heart and comfort us according to our needs.