Lovingly Waiting For Their Return by Robert Ricciardelli

The father of the prodigal son was a parent that never quit praying for children who had gone their own way. Both sons went away from the father's heart, one through choosing to leave, and one through envy and bitterness. So the father waits and loves until the children make the choice to return home. We likewise must be like this father, like our Father in heaven.

Community of Trust by Robert Ricciardelli

Trying to build community in the absence of trust is impossible. People become guarded and cautious in everything they say and do. Communication becomes a way to protect oneself, avoiding risk rather than expressing themselves. To  build community as God defines it is to create a safe place where people can share in the atmosphere of love, honor, and freedom. Transformation and destinies are realized in such a place.

God is Not Interested in Your Comfort by Robert Ricciardelli

God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making you more like Him than He is in making your life happy. We can be happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor, before God and man. All things, even the toughest of things work together for good towards the goal. The goal is Christ-likeness

Welcoming Them Home by Robert Ricciardelli

We welcome home those that have lost their way by embracing and loving them. We meet their needs by feeding them, clothing them, and making them our honored guests. We do not demand explanations on why they left, but show our joy that they are with us again. Love and forgiveness from the heart allows for the past to be wiped clean. What counts is the here and now, in the homecoming of our brothers and sisters.

Father Grows Us to Be Like Him by Robert Ricciardelli

When we abide and are at "home" with God as His children, what then? As His eternal children we become like Father and become fathers ourselves. Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers. Growing up and becoming like God is seeking to live His perfect standards of love and compassion, by His Spirit. We must fin and welcome home our lost brothers and sisters in the way our Father welcomed us home.

You Are Already Home by Robert Ricciardelli

Going home is a lifelong journey. Home is where the heart is, and it is who we are in eternity now and eternity's future. Along the way there are parts of ourselves that wander off or get stuck from truly "being" home. At times we can truly feel lost or alone. Even when home seems far off, Jesus walks and talks with us on the way. If we listen carefully, we will find that we are already home while on the way.

Taking Up Our Cross by Robert Ricciardelli

Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow Him. We do not need to look for it as it is a part of our life in this world. But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross? Maybe it is a health or family conflict to no choice of our own. Freedom comes through Christ for many burdens, and there will always be challenges in this life, but we can take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them.

Shared Life in Strength and Weakness by Robert Ricciardelli

Do not share in someone's strength, if you are unwilling to cover their weaknesses. That is not relationship, does not promote goodwill or community, and most of all, does not please God. What pleases God is our love for one another in action, and in promoting life in one another. That we do draw off each others strengths but also cover each others short comings. We do not quit each other, and seek restoration and healing when a brother falls.

The Road to Success by Robert Ricciardelli

Society tells us in so many ways that the road to success is being on top, dominate the competition, and seek fame and fortune. The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but going low in humility that leads to promotion from God. It is serving and preferring others beyond ourselves. Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, and eternal glory.

Words Speak Forth a Life by Robert Ricciardelli

As children of God we must give words to what we are living. Without words our lives lose vibrancy and creativity. When we see God in all of His glory, our hearts want to speak about Him. When we encounter special people in our lives, we want to share about them. When we are surprised by joy, we want to announce it! Through words we internalize what we are living, and the words speak forth a life worth living.

Love Wins Every Time by Robert Ricciardelli

Love wins! People care very little about your doctrine, but care very much about your love. Doctrine can lead to Love, but Perfect Love defines all truth. Love speaks louder in action than in words. Do not be defined by your doctrine, but transform your lives and the world around you through Love. At the end of the day, and at the end of all days, Love remains. In every battle you face, always remember, Love wins.

Your Life Speaks Louder than Words by Robert Ricciardelli

You are a witness for God and a living sign of God's presence in the world. What we live is more important than what we say, and words often reflect how a person is living. When we love from our hearts, our hearts speak words of love. When we are grateful, grateful words proceed. When words do not match our lives, we are viewed as hypocrites. May our lives give us the right words and may our words bring forth life.

Abundance Overflows Through Givers by Robert Ricciardelli

To be fed, you must feed, and to be filled, you must fill others. To really be satisfied in life, you must allow God to assimilate Himself in you and through you in satisfying others. Surely, "Give and it shall be given" is true and reciprocity is God's universal principle. God fills the His "Givers" with abundance and satisfies them with His goodness as they pour out His love to meet the needs of others.

We Are the Glory of God by Robert Ricciardelli

Spirit led life gives witness to an overcoming life through the eternal fusion of our spirit and the Spirit of God. This witness as beloved children should involve every aspect of our lives. Whatever we eat or drink, and whatever else we do, we do it all for the glory of God. We are the glory of God when we give visibility to our freedom and communion with God, and the manifestation of Himself through our lives.

Love is Not a Feeling by Robert Ricciardelli

Some think of love as a feeling. Feelings of love is life-giving, but real love cannot be based on feelings. We may never learn to love well, if we wait on feelings of love. Genuine love comes from God and empowers us to think, speak, and act in loving ways to make that love known to the world. When we "do" love, even when others do not respond it, we will discover that our feelings catch up with our acts of love.

Steps of Love, Steps of Life by Robert Ricciardelli

We can choose love by sharing bits of love whenever there is an opportunity. A smile, an encouragement, an embrace, a helping hand, a visit ... all these are little steps of love. Each step brings light that navigates us and others through dark times. It does not always remove darkness, but can take us through it. As we take many steps of love, we will discover a beautiful and long journey well pleasing to God.

Real Love That Heals by Robert Ricciardelli

Void of love we die. For many people, love from parents, family, and friends can come in very broken and limited ways. No human love is perfect love, and sometimes human love does not look like love at all. We can be healed from the wounds of human love by trusting in God's unlimited, unconditional, and perfect love, that is not far away from us but is the gift of God's Spirit dwelling within us.

Abba Father's Love is Foundational by Robert Ricciardelli

Christ restores our relationship to "Abba, Father", that is to be the foundation in all of our relationships. Abba means "Daddy", and expresses trust, belonging, and most of all intimacy. It does not mean authority, power, and control, that the word Father often evokes. Abba implies an embracing and nurturing love that transcends all the love that comes to us from our fathers, mothers, siblings, spouses, and lovers.

Claiming God as Father and Source by Robert Ricciardelli

When we call God "Father" we enter into the same intimate and empowering relationship with God that Jesus had. That relationship is called Spirit, and that Spirit is given to us, and enables us to cry out to Him. It is a cry of the heart, claiming God as the source of who we are. It is the claim that the Spirit makes in communion with us. It is the claim of oneness with Him it is the claim of love.

Afflictions Come; God Overcomes by Robert Ricciardelli

Count it all joy when afflictions come. Walking uprightly in the sight of God is never easy, but patience, peace, and endurance along the way will increase. Remain pliable to love and the directives of God while developing a resolve that overcomes the assaults and rejections of others. At some level the attacks and insults will not cease, but healing, strength and His abiding love will abound.

Who Are We? by Robert Ricciardelli

Who are we? We are not what we do nor are we what others say about us. The Spirit of God in us reveals our true identities. As God's beloved, freedom has come to us from the bondage of worldly success, fame, or power. Christ restores us from slavery to relationship as a highly favored child of God.  All who are guided by the Spirit of God are children of God. Who are we? We are God's beloved sons and daughters!

God Gives You a Ready Word by Robert Ricciardelli

The Spirit of God gives us voice when we are nervous or intimidated based on context or audience. By living in the Spirit, we don't have to worry about what to say. God empowers us to deliver a word fitly spoken when the need arises. We can waste much time anxiously preparing and then not relying on Spirit. Declare the truth that God speaks to you, speaks through you, and powerfully transforms the hearers of His word.

The Power of God is a Healer by Robert Ricciardelli

Everyone wants the power of God. Humanity's power controls, manipulates, and demands. This is often done in the name of God and yet it is not Him. God's power heals, reconciles, and unites in freedom, all done for His glory and not the glory of a man. It is this power of His Spirit that God wants to give us to become healers. When we are filled with His Spirit, we cannot be anything other than lovers and healers.

Full Heirs of God by Robert Ricciardelli

When we put ourselves down, we avoid the fullness of both honor and pain of a Christ-like life. But the Spirit Himself guides us, and joins us to bear witness that we are children of God. We are therefore heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. When we start living according to this truth, our lives will be radically transformed. If we are willing to share in Christ's suffering, we also will share in his glory.

Awakening for His Glory by Robert Ricciardelli

Religion is a challenge for contemporary society. The world is waiting to hear God's voice, yet those who have been called to speak forth the Word have been found wanting, confused, and weak in faith. The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of glory. Religion has diffused this power and concealed His glory. There is an awakening of God's people that will unleash His power and reveal His glory on earth.

We Are One in Spirit by Robert Ricciardelli

Living as Christ means being filled with the same Spirit that filled Jesus. The Holy Spirit that makes Jesus and His Father one, makes us one with the Father, and fuses believers into one Body. You and I are in the Father and the Father is in us. This is the eternal unity that Jesus gives us. We can live in communion with the Father as Jesus did, and become His expressed presence on earth as it is in heaven.

Natural and Spirit in Harmony by Robert Ricciardelli

Natural and Spirit life are ever so close. It is in the harmony of both that brings our existence to eternal significance. Even the most basic of acts can have eternal impact, and the Spirit of God empowers us to be moved towards significant acts of love. How we perceive eternity is how we will engage with life and love. How we then live becomes a good measure of the value and love we place on God and His ways.

Transformational Cloak by Robert Ricciardelli

Being a believer means being clothed by God. The cloak of His presence heals, delivers, and brings total transformation. It gives one the ability to declare death to selfish ways and to say, "I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me" Christ continues to reveal Himself through us so that the way, the truth, and the life, is becoming Christ.

Our True Identity by Robert Ricciardelli

We miss our true identity when we see Jesus as historic or inspiring rather than the reality of Christ in us, desiring and empowering us to be like Him. Jesus the Beloved Son of God came to reveal to us that we too are God's beloved children. One of life's greatest challenges is to claim the identity of Jesus for ourselves daily and be able to say: "We are the living Christ that reveal His love to the world today!"

Even Greater Works by Robert Ricciardelli

We distance ourselves from God when we think that we cannot know or do the things that Jesus knew and did. But God never puts distance between us, and Christ calls us friend, while teaching us of the Father. Jesus says, "In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as me, and even greater works." The power of Christ in us and wants to bring His glory to earth through EACH and ALL of us.

Not of This World and Making a Difference by Robert Ricciardelli

The Beatitudes offer a life that seems other worldly. Who can be truly gentle, merciful, pure in heart, and always concerned about justice? Loving our enemies, persecuted, what kind of life is that? We are in the world but we are of the Kingdom and of God's presence. We will be comforted and will be filled, while mercy overflows. We will be known as God's children and truly see God presently and in the life to come.

Persecution is a Promise by Robert Ricciardelli

 Jesus was persecuted, and promised His followers that persecution would also be their portion. Those who choose to live in God's nature of humility, gentleness, compassion, and mercy, will often be opposed by the world. When we want to become like Christ, we cannot expect always to be liked and admired. We will be received by those searching for God's authentic love, but we also must be prepared to face persecution.

Mercy Birthed in Compassion by Robert Ricciardelli

There is a difference between having pity and showing mercy. Mercy comes from a compassionate heart, and a desire to serve others as equals. Pity does not connect hearts and often becomes a looking downward towards a lesser being. Jesus didn't look down on us. He became one of us to feel deeply with us. Jesus lived miraculously through mercy birthed in compassion. May we show mercy that is empowered by His love and compassion.

Peace that the World Cannot Give by Robert Ricciardelli

Christ is a peacemaker. His peace doesn't mean only absence of war. It is not simply harmony and an all-is-calm atmosphere. His peace brings the fullness of well-being, abundantly given by God. Jesus gives us a gift of peace that the world cannot give. Shalom - peace is the  well-being of body, soul, and spirit, individually and communally. It can exist in the midst of unresolved problems and increasing human conflicts. This is peace we can receive and peace we can freely give in Him.

Pure Hearts Empowered by Robert Ricciardelli

Having a pure heart means a focused and willing heart for doing the will of our heavenly Father. Whatever we do or say, we attempt to do it as an obedient child. We know that He who sends us is ever with us, and we desire to do what pleases Him. We become whole and intentional through our complete unity with God. Becoming like Christ is growing into purity of heart that empowers a Kingdom clarity and vision.

The Hunger and Thirst of God by Robert Ricciardelli

God hungers and thirsts for righteousness. He resists the proud and those who oppress and exploit through wealth and influence. He yearns for people to treat one another as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the same God. He declares that the Kingdom way is not offering many sacrifices or prayers, but in doing good to others. He longs for a just world, and wants us to live with the same hunger and thirst.

Peel, Reveal, and Heal by Robert Ricciardelli

God will peel in order to reveal His best for us. It is not and easy process as layers of life are peeled back to reveal what may need to healed and released. Peeling and revealing brings forth healing, and a freedom that leads to God glorifying productivity. Welcome the momentary but necessary pain that happens as God uncovers us so that He can cover us more fully in Himself.

People Rejoice For Righteous Leaders by Robert Ricciardelli

When the righteous rule people rejoice while servant leaders do all in the realm of freedom. God promotes those who will humble themselves in  order to be empowered to lift others up.  Those who lead in this way will gain the favor of God and of man, while those who do not, will lose favor and influence, and be replaced by a generation of "do gooders" who will lead towards lasting change for the glory of God.

Hardships Become God's Provision by Robert Ricciardelli

Sometimes pain is unavoidable, and we do well in avoiding it when we can. When suffering is inevitable, God walks with us and never leaves us. God allows for pain, but also brings healing and growth as we journey through it with Him. Hardships many times become God's provision for us as He gives us a pathway to greater wisdom and peace, while we continue to trust Him in making all things right.

Expectation Beyond Humanity by Robert Ricciardelli

There is a magnificent duplicity in mankind. Every person falls short of the glory of God as to error is to be human. At the same time, we are created in the image of God which leaves an expectation of living in His nature and likeness. In the dichotomy of our very being, we can choose to follow God who then empowers us to overcome the darkness within, while forgiving our iniquities.

Clones of God's Heart by Robert Ricciardelli

Unity is not uniformity. People across the world are embracing, sharing, and living in God's love and His unique design for them. How boring it would be if we were the same. Divisions occur when people or systems desire clones of themselves, a people that do what they do, and conform to their pleasure. Unity can come however when we choose to become clones of God's heart and nature while valuing our differences.

You are Humanities Finishing Touch by Robert Ricciardelli

You are the crown of creation, God's masterpiece for the world. When we see a beautiful work of art, it brings glory to the creator of that work. You are created by the Master to reveal His glory, and you do so by being you. As you love and bring His presence to others, you begin to bring life to His most prized creation. We are blessed to be used by Him as the finishing touches for His masterpiece called humanity.

Ambassadors For Change by Robert Ricciardelli

A small group of love empowered and committed people can change the world. It has happened before, and it is in fact the only way it can happen. Governments and churches do not change the world, but people do, and it begins with us. It is never about the numbers but a God who uses us supernaturally to transform the world one life at a time. You are an ambassador for change. Who are you going to love today?

Joy Comes Through the Mourning by Robert Ricciardelli

Christ mourns at injustice, like He mourned over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus mourns over all things that fill the human heart with pain. He grieves with those who grieve and cries with those who cry. Darkness has distorted the face of the earth and the compassion of God overwhelms us. We too will mourn in the experience of seeing as He sees, but rest assured, the light of hope and joy breaks through the mourning.

Called to Gentleness by Robert Ricciardelli

Jesus, the blessed and the gentle Son! Even though He speaks with great boldness against all forms of hypocrisy, injustice, manipulation, and deception, His heart is a gentle heart. He won't break the crushed reed or snuff the faltering wick. Jesus came to bring "Good News" to the poor of heart, and freedom to all captives. As his followers, we are called to that same gentleness.

Don't Wait For Ready, Prepare for Now by Robert Ricciardelli

Life is a progression of growth and the fulfillment of God's will and purposes. We may not feel ready as the times and seasons unfold, yet learning comes in the motion of life and feelings often have little to do with it. So when God says go, make your move now, and take every step He gives you. If you wait for "ready", "ready" may never come.  Listen, anticipate, and above all prepare for ready, set, and go!

Guided Beyond Human Respect by Robert Ricciardelli

The words and actions of Christ were not influenced by human critics or praise but completely dependent on God's will. Jesus' compassion and ability to overcome was possible because his life was guided not by human respect but only by the love of his heavenly Father."God in us" empowers us to a love that is not dependent upon love in return, because His love consumes and compels us.

Knowledge is Limited by Robert Ricciardelli

Try not to rely too much on knowledge. It may distort reality and have little to do with truth essentials and the order of things that only God can reveal. So the one who thinks they know much may be in darkness to true wisdom from God. Factual truth can be deceiving if perceived inappropriately. Depending on knowledge is limited, but dependence on God allows you to tap into unlimited knowledge, wisdom, and truth.

Pregnant With His Glory by Robert Ricciardelli

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The Spirit of God is arousing us within and birthing destinies. These barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance and the increasing manifestation of sons and daughters of His glory. That is why waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting with joyful expectancy.

Freedom to Please the Father by Robert Ricciardelli

Jesus was free in the freedom of knowing Himself to be the beloved Son of God. He knew that He and the Father were one, and that he was sent into the world to proclaim God's love. He was free to speak and act in ways that pleased the Father with no regards to having to please man or the religious leaders around Him. We are also free, and empowered to respond to people's pains with the healing love of God.

Becoming Parents Like Him by Robert Ricciardelli

When we have found our way home to the Father, it is the beginning of growing up to be like Him. As we mature we become like Him to others, as sons become fathers and daughters become mothers. We are God's eternal children desiring to be perfect as He is perfect; perfect in love, compassion, and grace. We become available and empowered to welcome home brothers and sisters, the way the Father welcomed us home.

Breath of Life in Us by Robert Ricciardelli

Holy Spirit is the breath of God breathing in us. The Spirit of God is like our breath, yet more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. We might not often be aware of it, but without Him we cannot live a "spiritual life." He is the substance for miracles. His Spirit prays in us, and offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, Kindness, peace, and joy. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us life that death cannot destroy.