WHAT DOES LOVE HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

What does love have to do with it? Everything! Love has everything to do with it. We claim to know what love is, we say it all the time. We use the word so frequently that the meaning gets lost in the translation:

I love you.
Loving the new hairdo!
I just love the way it makes me feel.
They are so lovable, and so on…
What are we really saying when we use this term? Are we expressing joy, the beauty of a thing, a desire for something? What we often do is express our own feelings about something, not the selfless expression of what love is actually all about. At its best love is an action, something that is done for the benefit of another. But if we are to know what love truly is, we need to look a little deeper and look to the one that epitomizes it.
God’s Word gives us a thorough explanation of love, but simply put…love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV). In His complete love for us sinners, God allowed His son to be a sacrificial lamb that we may be saved from death. God bore the sacrifice of Christ, believing that this was the only way to reconcile us to Him.  God hoped that we would repent and turn back to Him thus enduring crucifixion that the reconciliation of His people may be done. Now that’s love!
God’s love for us is so complete and fulfilling that we are never separated from it. The Bible says … nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39 NKJV). It is comforting to know that even when we lose our way God’s everlasting love is always there. And in those times when we fall short, we often miss the point God intended.
As Christians we are called to a higher purpose and that is to serve in love, without conditions. Jesus is the ultimate example of true love in action. His selfless service should be a reminder and hope for each of us.  How do we love that way? We are to love as Christ loved us, without condemnation or selfish purpose. We must realize that we are all a work in progress and be considerate of the faults of others. We should not stand in judgment, but should treat people the way we want to be treated, and have some acceptance that we all fall short everyday. And guess what? As flawed as we all are, we are still loved by God!
So to experience real love in action, go out and do something. Tutor a child, feed the needy, spend time at a nursing facility, or simply start at home. Try giving love to another and start to feel the love within.

Scripture: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV

Prayer: Father God, thank you for setting the example for true love. Your sacrificial and everlasting love is within each of us. Give us the will to move on your behalf to show others the same type of love that Jesus displayed on Calvary! Let your light shine on each of us as we reach out to others with unconditional love and service. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read 1 Corinthians 13 and experience what true love is!

OMG!

Ever have one of those OMG moments where God showed up as only He can, and the only thing to say is “Oh My God!?” There are times in this walk with Christ that we struggle and persevere through trials and disappointments. But then there comes an unexpected breakthrough and we are so overwhelmed and fulfilled that our hearts cannot contain the joy we feel, and we just say “wow!” It is in these moments when blessings have been abundant, prayers have been more than answered, and our praise is beyond measure.

Imagine how Abraham felt at the moment God provided a sacrificial lamb for his offering of Isaac (see Genesis 22: 8-18).
Imagine after all those years in captivity how Joseph felt when pharaoh put him in charge of Egypt (see Genesis 41:39-44),  and then the joy of  reuniting with his brothers and his father  (Genesis 45:2, 46:29).
Imagine Moses and the Israelites and their journey through the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:29-31).
Imagine the fullness of David’s praise when God revealed his will for David’s offspring (see 2 Samuel 7:18-29).
And Jesus! We cannot begin to imagine the power and the love that resurrected Him for our sake. OMG!
All of those “wow” moments were experienced after a trial or test; but we can find those moments everyday in the midst of it all. We can say OMG because of the wonders of His creations that surround us everyday: sunsets over a frozen lake, the laughter of children, the sparkle in the eyes of an elderly couple, the truth of His Word…blessings are all around us if we open ourselves to them.
So take some time out today to reflect on the obstacles that only God could deliver us from, and the blessings that only He could bestow upon us. Praise Him for His omnipotence, omniscience, and His omnipresence; and thank Him for His grace and mercy that never ceases to amaze.

Scripture: The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the  Rock, my Savior!…Therefore I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. 2 Samuel 22:47, 50 NIV

Prayer: Father God, Wow! You are awesome and worthy of all the praise! We will have continual praise on our lips and hearts for all that You have done in our lives. Thank You Lord, we love You, and honor You for who You are! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
 

Read 2 Samuel 22 to see the fullness of David’s praise for his rock, his fortress and his deliverer.

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR

“The Devil is a liar,” is often proclaimed by old folks and church goers to denounce some shameful act or to dismiss sinful behavior. The statement acknowledges the truth about the devil but in many ways it minimizes our concern for the enemy and his devices. Although we know the truth about him, we disregard the power that he really has in our lives. We have to recognize that the enemy is real and working against the will of God. He will convince us that we are not loved enough. He will throw obstacles in our path when we are trying to do the right thing. He will tempt us with the very thing that we hunger for at our weakest moment.

There is no limit to what the enemy will do to sway our faith in God. The devil is a cunning trickster. By whispering lies in her ears, he made Eve believe that God was holding out on her (see Genesis 3:1-5). He tortured Job because he stood righteous before God, just to see if Job would break (see Job1:8-12).  He even tempted Jesus in the wilderness while He was fasting (see Matthew4:1-11).

What is so interesting is that the enemy knows that he is defeated; he saw the love and sacrifice of Christ first hand. But he is counting on us not to embrace that loving sacrifice. He is counting on us to forsake our faith, and feed our flesh. He knows that God has the victory, but he will try and win the battle of wills every time. He knows that if we do not kill the flesh on a daily basis that he can wreak havoc in our lives. He can have us doing all sorts of ungodly things and convince us that it is the right thing to do.   

For instance:

Drunkenness-  "Aw well, Jesus turned water to wine, it’s all good."

Theft- "The company can afford to replace it with the little they pay us anyway."

Drug Use- "It is just partaking of God’s green earth; and it’s for medicinal purposes."

Gambling- "Have faith, if there is no risk there is no reward."

Fornication- "We have to get to know each other before we get married."

All these are excuses to move outside of God’s will and in line with the devil’s; because he has a plan for you too, if you believe him. So we have to remain steadfast in our faith, we must feed on God’s word, and we must pray without ceasing. But we must also remember that the devil is a liar. Jesus said so Himself and rebuked him (see Luke 10:18-20, John 8:32)… and that is the truth that shall set you free!

Scripture:You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NIV

Prayer: Thank you Father God for protecting us from the enemy and his tricks. Lord keep us safe and out of harm’s way as we handle our daily business. We know that the devil is tricky, but we also know that he has been defeated by the blood of Jesus. We love you and exalt you for your sacrifice Father God and it is in Jesus’ name that we pray, Amen!

Read John 8 to fully understand the power Christ has given us over the enemy.

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

Worldly influence can deter us and corrupt our thoughts and words. What we say out of our mouths have control over our lives and those that are within earshot. Words of encouragement can produce victory in situations, just as negativity spawns defeat.

You are useless and stupid.

I wish you had never been born.

You are poor and ugly, no one is ever gonna love you.

You remind me of your no-good daddy.

You can’t do this, or you won’t ever do that…

Pretty harsh words to say to someone. We hear similar words too many times to mention, and often spewed out angrily at children. Ever wonder what happens to children that are berated and ridiculed in such a manor? More often than not they become the thing that words cursed them to be. Many will grow up embracing all the negative things they have heard spoken to them; because it starts in the mind, and words have a way of lingering there if unchecked.

Words are powerful and often express our inner most thoughts and desires. So when shaping the minds of young people whether it is parenting, in a classroom, or in ministry, we must watch what we say. We need to remember the power of our words and the Word of God.  The Bible says the words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18 NIV). The Bible also teaches us not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2 NIV).
The world is reckless with controversy, negativity, and unrealistic standards that our children are being fed continually. So we must be wise in our approach to the young minds of today and offer hope, correction and healing with our words, through God’s Word.  It is our duty to speak life into the minds of our children and remind them of their worth in His kingdom. So let children know that God put them here for a purpose, He loves them if no one else does, they were created in His image, and they can do all things through Christ that strengthens!

Scripture:The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Prayer: Father God, we pray that You will watch over us and guide our words and deeds. Many of us have suffered because of words, so Lord please forgive us for any harsh words spoken and heal those that have been wounded with words. Help us to renew minds and hearts as we minister to broken spirits, so that they will know they are accepted, valued, loved and forgiven in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read Isaiah 43:1-13 to get an understanding of the love God has for us, in His own words!