Loving Well | New Covenant Life

Loving Like God Loves

March 18, 2026July 31, 2020 by Tonia Woolever

In The Wisdom Series, I identified being a lover as the fifth pillar of strength Wisdom wants to build in your heart (according to Proverbs 9:1.) In fact, we could sum up the main agenda of the Spirit of Wisdom as: He wants to train your heart, child of God, how to love like He …

The Secret Club

March 18, 2026May 6, 2020 by Tonia Woolever

At the ripe age of nine, I was a member of a secret club. It was very small, consisting of five third graders. (Or six, depending on who had favor with our ringleader on any given day.) Of course, getting into the secret club was a coup in itself, signaling that you belonged and you …

Dressing For Your Day

March 18, 2026October 17, 2019 by Tonia Woolever

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them …

Understanding: An Act of Love

March 18, 2026October 11, 2019 by Tonia Woolever

The importance of understanding God shows up everywhere in Scripture, including this well-known exchange between Jesus and a scribe: One of the scribes came and …. asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the …

Calling All Lovers

March 18, 2026February 17, 2019 by Tonia Woolever

February is the season of love. Leading up to Valentine’s, stores overflow with valentine cards, chocolate candy in red heart boxes and flower bouquets. And of course, the movie channels trot out all our favorite romantic flicks. One of my favorite movies is “Sabrina” — the 1995 remake with Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford — because it beautifully reveals the power of love to awaken, transform, and motivate us.

Love As He Has Loved You

March 18, 2026September 2, 2018 by Tonia Woolever

In the course of sharing life with God the Spirit, He changed my heart towards people. Instead of just trying to cope with them, endure them, and change them for my comfort (and their good, of course) — I found myself wanting to love and nourish them. Because God has nourished me. And being nourished …

A Big Love

March 29, 2026March 21, 2018 by Tonia Woolever

Hubby Ron and I cried a lot the last few days. I’m sad to the core, but I don’t mind, because a big love deserves a big grief. Hubby and I had to say goodbye to our beloved Labradoodle, Dude. Known to many friends as “the Dude,” known to our veterinarian staff as “the Dudester,” …

Taking Care Of Business

March 22, 2026January 19, 2016 by Tonia Woolever

Covenant relationship looks like this: if I give of myself to take care of my covenant partner, tending to their needs and desires; and they give themselves to caring for me, we are both satisfied! We love well. We have mutual joy. There will be no no lack, no sorrow, no striving. God’s definitions of …

Beyond the Ten Commandments

March 18, 2026August 4, 2015 by Tonia Woolever

Since my evening was open last night, my husband would be occupied and I had no appointments, I asked the Lord, “What would you like to do this evening? What would be a good thing?” The reply came, “Read my Word together.” A predictable answer, though certainly not a stock answer. I honestly don’t always …

True Passion Marched Past Full Disclosure

March 18, 2026March 31, 2015 by Tonia Woolever

In my desire to understand my Lord and the Word of God, I often try to put myself in Jesus’ shoes. What was it like to be Jesus, walking the earth as a human? Especially this time of year, or whenever I read the Scriptures concerning the suffering of Christ, I am astounded anew at …