Love, A Living Legacy!

Pictured above are two of my three grandchildren, Savannah and Elijah. Baby Charley, our newest edition is too little to come out in the snow. If you asked me what legacy I would like to leave them it would be to:

“........You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind......."
Matthew 22:36-40 NLT

I know it's not easy, but I pray each of them will learn to embrace this greatest commandment with all their heart, soul, and mind!

My thoughts on how to "LOVE!"

Love God...
Love others...
Love self...

It really is a matter of the heart. The only time in scripture where Jesus became extremely angry...to the point of throwing tables is with the money changers in the temple. God recently brought this passage to my mind. As I pondered Jesus actions and anger, I thought of tables flipping over and money flying everywhere. WOW! What a scene that must have been. Again, I pondered his anger and the actions of all those present. Certainly, many had sinned and done it in the presence of Jesus, but this time He became furious.

Why was Jesus so angry?

His anger was not so much what they were doing and where they were doing it, but WHY they were doing it! It really was a matter of the heart.

Their motives: All selfish.
They put money before God.
They "loved" money more than they "loved" God.
Their hearts were filled with greed.

Any thing, person, or possession we place above God puts us in the same position. It's a matter of the heart. Do we truly love GOD more than anything and do we show it in our actions towards others. Loving GOD with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourself truly is the greatest commandment.

We are selfish by nature. It's probably why we are to put ourselves third. Now, before you go out and abuse your body trying to take care of everything on your own, hear me out.

Self-care is very important. Our bodies house "the Holy God!" So, we must treat them as the gift and treasure they are. In doing so, we are healthy enough to be "present" in the moment and participate as God's living vessels.

As simple as it is; it's pretty complicated. Well, we make it that way.

I pray my grandchildren will be healthy spiritually, emotionally, and physically and will run an awesome race here on planet earth. And for each of you, my friends....I pray this same prayer.

By His mercy and in the grip of His grace,

Andrea Bowling Perdue