Love

Love a word that comes and goes, but few people really know what it means to really love somebody....Kirk Franklin

Every day hundreds of relationships are destroyed. Friendships, marriages, families. Although I have never read any statistical information, I have my own thoughts about why this happens. I believe that most people (including myself) have a misconception about what real love is. We believe we know how we want others to love us without checking how we love them. Too often we find ourselves wanting something from others that we aren't willing to give. We become frustrated with our spouses, our friends and and our family members. Hold grudges. Don't forgive. The result - a destroyed relationship.

So what does the Bible say about love. There is one verse that immediately came to mind while I was sitting listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8  A simple verse with a powerful message.  The first thing I take from this verse is that loves is selfless.  To truly love someone you must give of yourself expecting nothing in return.  Personally, I have found this difficult to do at times.  Too often I find myself asking, "What's in it for me?"  I wonder what the results of our relationships would be today if both people involved (spouses, sisters, brothers, friends) spent more time being distributors of God's love what the world would look like.  God didn't wait to send His Son after we had gotten our lives together. He knew that in and of ourselves, we would never get there.  Have you ever stopped to think that the person you are getting so frustrated with is doing the best he or she can?  In fact, that person is just like you and how You are with God.  Over and over again we disappoint Him and after everything He has done for you.  It's not just about what He did in the past.  It's about what He is doing right now and will do in the future.  It's about unconditional love.    Have you ever stopped and asked yourself what if God would have just given you?  If not, take a moment right now and think about it.  As a Christian we should be more about self-evaluation and improvement.  We must allow the blood of Jesus to continue to clean us from within.  Stop being so quick to point the finger, pointing out the flaws of others.  Instead forgive more.  Love without expecting anything in return.  When Jesus walked this very earth, there were times He spoke.  But His most valuable example was how He lived.  Let  that be your lesson.  Real, true love is not only selfless but it's about action.  It doesn't sit around waiting for the other person to move.  It's more about doing what is right. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending your darling Son Jesus to die on the fact for my sins.  Thank You that even thought  I continue to mess up, You continue to forgive me.  You love me in spite of my faults.  Help me to be more loving with a love that is patient, kind, does not envy, is not puffed up.  Help me to forgive.  It's not about me but it's about letting Your light shine for others to see.  Help me to move self out of the way.  I realize that because I am bringing this to You, Satan is going to come up against.  When that happens, help me to respond the way You responded when tempted, with the Word.  Lord, I just want to be better.  Thank You already for answering my prayer.  I believe that it is already done.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.



To Save A Life

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

So I watched a movie tonight called "To Save A Life". The movie was about a teenage boy who committed suicide.  He committed suicide because he felt judged and that no one heard him.  He felt that no matter how loud he yelled he would still be invisible.  The night before he committed suicide he went to church.  Maybe he went there looking for answers. The sad part about it was that he didn't feel welcome there either. It really made me think about how approachable I am. Do I go out of my way to smile, say a kind word, recognize a visitor, introduce myself? I gave myself a grade of about a 'C'.  Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.  Sometimes I can't see past my own problem to see the needs of others.  I  believe alot of us are like that.  Which brings me to a question I want you to think about today. "What good is all this if you're not going to let it change you?"

Let's think about this for a minute.  Most of you reading this go to church on a regular basis. You pray and you  read our Bible  But how do you act when you are out in the real world?  Do you stand out in a crowd or do you just blend in?  Each day you are faced with decisions of good versus evil.  How do you respond?  Do you do your part to include others, even those that don't fit into your mold?  They may not carry a designer purse or drive the best car.  Maybe they don't wear the best clothes.  Maybe they are struggling just to make ends meet. Maybe all they need is a smile.  You could be the person that changes their entire outlook on life just by saying "hello". I am not saying that you have to be best friends with them but that doesn't mean you have to talk about them either.  You never know what another person is going through.  You never know how they may be hurting on the inside.  Even the  most well put together individual feels pain sometimes.  It is your job as a child of the Most High God to be that light that shines in darkness.  You are supposed to stand up for what it right in all situations.  You should be selfless.  I know that you, like me,  may be carrying your own set of burdens right now but it doesn't give any of us the right to mistreat another human being.  To treat them as if they were invisible.  God sent His only begotten Son to save your life.  Why not show your gratitude by saving another life?  There is a motto out there that says 'Each one, reach one'.  Take some time today to smile at the person you walk by everyday at work. Smile at the person in line behind you at Target.  Say hello to the person riding on the elevator with you at the doctor's office.  You never know what impact this simple acts of kindness may have on someone's life.  Jesus left instructions that said you and I are to be witnesses all over the world.  You may not be doing it in the traditional sense as I did at a very young age. We went door-to-door asking complete strangers if they were saved.  You may not go to that extreme but you can show everyone the love of God.  You just might save a life.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I come to You today Lord a bit ashamed.  I know that I have missed opportunities to be a witness for You.  I have not shown the love of God in the way that I know how.  Help me to be a better Christian.  I want to be the type of Christian you want me to be.  Please forgive me for my disobedience.  I thank you for your grace and mercy that give me another chance daily to be what you want me to be.  I will always give your name the praise for You are worthy.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

Let The Life That You Live Speak For You

New Year's Day I received a phone call with some very sad news.  A very dear friend of mine was called home to be with the Lord.  The one thing that has stood out the most to me during this time of bereavement is what everyone is saying about this young man.  Those that knew him well talk about his relationship with the Lord and his smile and the love that was always shown by him.  Not one bad word has been said by anyone.  It made me think about what would be said about me if God were to call me on home.  While I am not really concerned about what people say about me, I am concerned about what God will say to me when I am standing before Him on the day of judgment. 

Revelations 2:2 says, 'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary'.  These words are a true testament to someone living life under God's direction, waiting on Him and allowing Him to direct his or her path.  This verse also shows that God is intimately acquainted with us.  He knows the good and the bad and yet He loves us anyway.  Here in this passage, the church at Ephesus had remained faithful to the Lord through difficulty and persecution.  Even though there were those around them who didn't live by God's law, they continued to stand on God's Word.  Isn't that what this life is all about?  God needs us to be a light that shines in this dark world.  Even though we may live in a house with unbelievers, work with unbelievers, see them at the grocery store, at the mall, even at the church house.....they should always be able to see Jesus in everything we do.  It is not just about quoting the Word, we should be living the Word.  For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. As Christians we ought to regularly examine our motives and priorities against God's standards.  Taking the time to ask Him to remove anything that is not like Him. 

This same chapter goes on to say that God had one complaint against the church at Ephesus, 'that you have abandoned the love you had at first'.  (verse 4)  So many times we allow the hardships of life to turn us away from the person God designed us to be.  Things like the loss of a loved one, a job, divorce, a friend can cause us to become bitter with a hardened heart.  Make us skeptical of everyone we encounter. But how will the world know that we are Christians but by our love.  But the bitterness that shows in our everyday lives contradicts the Word which says that 'all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose'.  (Romans 8:28)  Yes, even death.  That is why our hearts can be sad over the loss of someone we love, but as Christians we know that even death has a purpose in God's master plan.  Look at the death of His Son Jesus.  He died so that we might live.  I am the first person to tell you that I could care less what other's think about me as long as I am living the life that God wants me to live.  Being the best person I can be and always showing the love of Christ to everyone I meet is what matters.   How do I do this?  Through a smile, a kind word, getting over on the highway so someone can merge on, not repaying evil for evil, not always saying the first thing that pops into my head.  I have to be honest and say that sometimes this is hard.  There are days that I fail miserably at this but I confess it to God and He gives me grace and new mercies every morning and for this I am grateful.  So as You continue to change me and grow me up in You, let the life that I live speak for me. And let that life be one that is pleasing in Your sight. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thou who made me and knows all about me.  Thou who knows my heart and the motives behind all that I do.  Search me and try me and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and whatever You find that is not like you Lord please remove it Lord.  I want to be of service for You.  In Jesus' Name I pray Amen.