Love for Scripture: John 14:15-31

I recently switched from my Chicken Soup for the Soul bible to a new Quest Study Bible that I picked up at a thrift store years ago. With it comes a new reading plan and the study notations are opening my eyes to see the bible in ways I've never considered before.
Read today's verse. It starts with Jesus talking about the Holy Spirit coming to us after His death.
Read it again.
Verse 15 says 'If you love me, you will obey what I command.'
Verse 21a 'Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is one who loves me.'
Verse 23a 'Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."'
Three times in one lesson Jesus says if we love Him we must obey or if we obey we must love Him.
Am I learning more about obedience this year as well as love without realizing it? I know I'm learning more about Him and my relationship is growing so much stronger as I am learning to listen as I never have before.
Is that obedience to His love?
Through this journey and through my personal life, I have learned of many people who are working on love or obedience this year.
Is Jesus saying we are all working on the same thing 'love AND obedience'?
I have found myself in the past few weeks waiting, listening for his voice as I try to make my decisions or before I react to a situation. It is hard and I don't always succeed, but sometimes, I do feel a calming spirit come over me in the heat of the moment. I just say thank you, because I know that I am obeying Him. And it all started with Blinded and Love for Wide Open Roads.
It's amazing how far I've come. I feel so blessed to be able to share it with you, to know that this is my calling today. I don't know where tomorrow will take me, but I can't wait to find out!

Love to for Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

I went to visit the dentist today for a cleaning and to get my permanent crown fitted. During the cleaning, I was asked if I had been having any issues. I said over the last few weeks I'd been experiencing some sensitivity. During the cleaning they checked me out but didn't find anything to cause the pain and recommended to have the dentist double check when he saw me. The first thing he asked me was if I was under any stress.
How did he know???
Evidently it can translate to mouth sensitivity if ones mouth is being properly cared for.
I came across this reading last week and marked it for an entry. After being told that stress is possibly causing physical pain in my life, I guess now is a great time to write this. Maybe I'm the one that needs to read it most of all.
Can you imagine not worrying about anything in life? Being as free as the birds in the air or the plants in the field? How beautiful and well fed are they?
God gives each and every creature in His Kingdom exactly what they need to survive. So shall He take care of us, His children. So much more precious to Him.
Instead look for God, search for His Kingdom and His treasures, and everything that we need will be provided to us.
I love verse 34:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
How simple and true is that? So tomorrow, today, in 5 minutes or right now, when you start worrying, stop, pray about it instead. Release the tension from you. Ask for strength, for peace.
And say a prayer for me as I say one for you. Let's help stop the worry, stop the pain, stop the trouble, let tomorrow worry about itself.