Autumn Macarthur

Real romance, real faith!

June 30, 2015
by autumn macarthur
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A renewed heart…

Ezekiel 11:19,20 – Singleness of heart

Image of new green leaves with Bible verse, from Christian romance author Autumn Macarthur's blog
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And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Dear Lord, help me to love and follow You, and be willing to see if there is anything in my life I’ve made more important than You.

You ordered the people in Ezekiel’s time to set aside their false gods, and look only to You. You promised that if they did, You would bring them home from exile, and You would renew their hearts and spirits.

Please Lord, do the same for me. So many things can become idols when we seek them above all else, when we value anything else higher than You. Even things that can be blessed gifts You can provide, like the desire for human love and marriage, the longing for a child, or seeking after financial success.

All can become worthless little gods, if wanting them gets in the way of me trusting You to bring me what is best for me. So one by one, You’ve smashed them, and I’ve cried and ranted and hardened my heart against You, not realising what a blessing You gave. Now, I see why these things came to me in Your time not mine, or not at all.

Please, make me new in You. Make me tender and responsive. Renew Your Spirit in me. Help me to see what is real and true and lasting.

I want to be Your child, and I want You to be my God and Father. I want You more than these other things I’ve sought. None of them last forever, but You are eternal.

You are faithful and true, and You always keep Your promises.

Thank You for that.

[Tweet “God is faithful and true to those who choose to follow Him, and He always keeps His promises.”]

 

June 29, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on If I don’t have love…

If I don’t have love…

1 Corinthians 13:1 I am only a noisy bell without love

Image of bells, and Bible verse 1 Cor 13:1, from inspirational romance author Autumn Macarthur
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Dear Lord, help me to be patient and loving as I do for my husband all the things he can no longer do for himself.

Help me to see the many ways I am just as weak and wounded and in need. Help me to see the only difference is, my weaknesses and wounds are on the inside. Just as real, but not showing on the surface the way his do.

I can ignore mine, pretend they don’t exist, pretend I don’t need help and healing. I deny my wounds, and instead, I throw tantrums with You. I complain it’s not fair, I didn’t sign up for this when we got married.

You remind me I did.

This is what “in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better and for worse” truly means. Those aren’t just pretty words, they are promises. A promise I made and I intend to keep. But I can only do that if I accept Your help. Your Love. Your support.

You make it real, Lord. You give the joy in the journey. You remind me that in all of this, love is the only real and lasting thing.

I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. 1 Cor 13:1 ERV

[Tweet “In all the busyness of life, God reminds us – love is the only real and lasting thing.”]

June 28, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Living in God’s Love

Living in God’s Love

1 Corinthians 13:13 Love remains

Image of red roses plus Bible verse 1 Cor 13:13, from inspirational romance author Autumn Macarthur

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13 NIV

Teach me to focus on You Lord, not on the little things. All those little things add up to a life, but putting You and Your love at the centre is what makes them beautiful. Your love is what lifts the thousand little nothings that make up our days, and makes them more, a life lived for You.

Thank You for teaching me how to love. Thank You for teaching me what a good life really means. It’s a life of love, with You at the heart.

Please, help me to remember that, when I get distracted, when non-love takes control, when I forget to put You first, to put Love first. When life starts to feel a struggle, a battle. When all the little nothings become resentments. When other people’s needs become demands, not blessed opportunities to serve You.

I don’t want that. I want to live with You and in You and through You. I want the life of love You promise us. I want to do Your will. I want to know Your joy. I want to be Your mouth and Your hands and Your feet here on earth, so that it truly can become as Heaven. But I’m weak and I forget and I put my own needs first sometimes. A lot of the time.

Forgive me Lord, and help me to forgive myself. Teach me that all I need to do is ask, and You do forgive, You do wash my failures away, You do stand beside me to strengthen me for next time. You still love me, no matter how many times I stumble and fall. You’re there to pick me up again, as soon as I look to You and ask for help.

Thank You for that. Thank You for Your endless grace and mercy. Thank You for Your love. It’s the thing that makes all the difference.

[Tweet “God’s love lifts all the little nothings of our days, and makes them more, a life lived for Him.”]

June 27, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Forgiven, but not yet perfect

Forgiven, but not yet perfect

Ephesians 1:7 – in Christ, we are free

Image of green leaves with Bible verse Ephesians 1:7, from inspirational romance author Autumn Macarthur
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In Christ, we are made free by His sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins, by His rich grace.
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Sometimes, the biggest danger we face isn’t things that are obviously wrong. They are easy to spot and sidestep. We don’t fall into those snares.

But there are so many sneaky insidious ways we can get tripped up. Things that look good. Sometimes, it even comes from other Christians. The blog posts and Facebook pages and Pinterest boards that unintentionally tell lies about the Christian life. The ones that give an image of perfection that no one can live up to. The ones that are always sweet and always loving and always kind.

The ones we compare ourselves to, and feel envy or resentment or depression about. The ones that make us feel we don’t measure up, that somehow we’re the only ones with messy lives. The only ones who don’t smile and love our way through everyday. The only ones who don’t always feel the joy.

Real Christians aren’t that image of perfection. We all mess up. We all have feelings we’d rather we didn’t. We all fall into temptation, just like everyone else. The one difference between a Christian and someone who isn’t, is that we know we can turn to Jesus, both for forgiveness, and for help to do it better next time.

But if we keep stuck behind the mask, of ‘everything’s fine’, of trying to fix ourselves by our own strength, we can’t get either. To be forgiven, we need to admit we failed. To call on God’s help, we need to admit we’re weak and can’t do it on our own.

He is there. For all of us, always.

All we need to do is ask.

[Tweet “To call on God’s help, we need to admit we’re weak and can’t do it on our own.”]

June 26, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Be still….

Be still….

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God

Image of still reflective pond, Bible verse Psalm 46:10, from inspirational romance author Autumn Macarthur
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Some days and weeks I need to remember this more than others. This is one of them! Thanks to Anna for the sweet reminder.

My prayer today-

Balance. It always comes back to balance. And as the Psalmist said, being still, and knowing You. That’s the still centre of the turning world, the world that some days feels it’s whizzing faster and faster and faster.
If I’m on the outer rim, it races around so fast I’m clinging on by my fingernails, terrified and screaming like the worst sort of carnival ride. If I’m focused on You, at the centre, there’s calm and peace and I can breathe again. Ahhhh….
Help me to remember Lord. Help me to keep my eyes on You, always. Help me to know true stillness, and seek that in my life, by seeking You in my life above all else.
Thank You!

June 24, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Christ strengthens me

Christ strengthens me

Philippians 4:13 All things through Jesus

Image of mountain with Bible verse Phil 4:13 from Autumn Macarthur, inspirational romance author

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And some book news!
The Splash 9 book boxed set of summer romances filled with faith has released! It’s great value at 99c US/ 99p UK for nine sweet reads. Click on the cover to go to the Amazon page for the set.

Cover image for the Splash 9 book anthology of Christian romance novellas

June 22, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Do not be anxious….

Do not be anxious….

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious….

Image of sun on grass with Bible verse Phil 4:6-7, from Christian romance author Autumn Macarthur

Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.