Friday, March 7, 2008
Last Minute Travel
Hubby called just a few minutes ago, and it looks like we're making a trip to TN this weekend (a.k.a. in a couple of hours!) I can't wait to get there & see the surprise on his parents' faces!
Half a Life
I do several devotions, and one really stood out today. It had a quote from Phillips Brooks, who said, "When you discover you've been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it." That was ME as little as 4 years ago. I was incredibly lost, filling my days & nights with as much activity as possible (much of it unwholesome), yet I still felt that something was missing. Until that day on my back porch when I was all alone and God softened my heart & opened my eyes, and I was filled with His presence. My life was forever changed that day, Praise God! Oh, not all of my former self fell away at once (still dealing with some of that!), however major changes took place, and I began to feel that I had value (not as a prideful thing), and that things would be okay. Jesus filled the void in my life, and I no longer feel like something is missing. Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me Thy sweet salvation so rich and free! -"Thank You, Lord", Words and Music by Mr. and Mrs. Seth Sykes |
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Francine Rivers "Unafraid"
My sister just got me hooked on an author, Francine Rivers. With one novella, she captivated me for two days, I cried, and I got a fresh perspective on the life of Jesus and his mother, Mary.
In the fifth novel of the series, entitled "Unafraid," Ms. Rivers delivers the imagined life of Mary, who was to become the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary is depicted as a devout Jewish girl with a hunger & thirst for God. While I am not of the Jewish faith, I can certainly identify with her desire to be close to God, to understand to will for our lives, for the struggle between flesh & spirit. Mary is depicted as human, yet willing to trust in God.
Some things that stuck me as I was reading:
Mary to Joseph, "Hasn't God always chosen the weak to confound the strong?" and "Think of him. God never chooses as a man would choose." These two sentences grabbed me & made me think. God chose ordinary people, sinners, the most unlikely characters on earth to be his messengers. Why did he do this? to teach us that one need not come from a high station in life, nor have worldly goods or knowledge in order to be effective in His service. Ordinary folks such as you & I are able to carry out His will as well as anyone willing to heed the call of His voice. God's choices confound the world (and often the saints) because we think within the confines of what we "know" - our earthly knowledge & experience. We place boundaries on what we think can be accomplished, not realizing that with God, ALL things are possible!
Joseph speaks of " . . . a return to the relationship Adam had with the Lord in the Garden of Eden." This is what we all desire, whether we're aware of it or not. That communal relationship with our creator is what is missing in our lives. Even though we can enjoy His presence through prayer & reflection on His Word, we have so many other things clamoring for our attention that we do not fully focus our attention on Him. How wonderful it will be to simply bask in His presence, sitting in adoration worshiping him constantly and being filled with joy!
Jesus has told Mary, "Each must choose." She struggles between physically following her favored firstborn and remaining with her other children, who doubt Jesus' claim to be the Son of God. "She must say yes to God and stop counting the cost. Even if it meant giving up her children." She has reached a point where she must follow her heart and hand over her grown children to God, trusting Him to open their eyes & hearts to the truth. This is not an easy thing to do, as many of us parents know all too well!
As Jesus is in the temple, "calling out," so to speak, the scribes & Pharisees: "Mary had never seen Jesus angry, and she trembled a the sight of his wrath." His wrath. These two words reminded me in a HUGE way that Jesus is God! And God's wrath is not to be taken lightly. His wrath destroyed entire cities, tribes, and nations, even the world, save Noah, his sons and their wives.
As Pilate is forcing the masses to choose which prisoner to release: "'Barabbas!'" They wanted violence and bloodshed. They wanted rebellion & hatred against Rome. 'Barabbas!'" The Savior, the Redeemer, the King that most of Israel was anticipating was expected to be a leader of bloody revolution, not of peace & love & righteousness. Ms. Rivers also makes a statement about Pilate's washing of his hands as a mockery of the Jewish ritual of hand washing. I had never thought of it that way before, and while I'm not certain this is historically accurate (the meaning, not the actual washing), it certainly lends a new perspective to the incident. Something to think about and possibly research.
Mary is contemplating the journey of her life, and determines that she is no longer impetuous & impatient, but simply eager for what God will do. We often desire a hasty reply to our prayers & pleas, forgetting that everything happens in God's time, not ours, for He knows what is best. She reflects: "Will you obey, no matter the cost?" "Today I say yes. And today, and today, and today, until there are no more todays left." How profound! An excellent illustration of how we must daily choose to say, "Yes!" Daily we must choose to submit ourselves to His will.
Mary comes to the realization of "How small her dreams had been." This goes back to what I mentioned earlier, that we cannot in our human frame of mind, fathom all that God can do. We can only imagine so big, but He is capable of so much more than that! I, for one, and excited to see just how big He can be!
This book is a very good read, and I highly recommend it. I can hardly wait for Susie to finish the one on Bathsheba so I can start it!
In the fifth novel of the series, entitled "Unafraid," Ms. Rivers delivers the imagined life of Mary, who was to become the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary is depicted as a devout Jewish girl with a hunger & thirst for God. While I am not of the Jewish faith, I can certainly identify with her desire to be close to God, to understand to will for our lives, for the struggle between flesh & spirit. Mary is depicted as human, yet willing to trust in God.
Some things that stuck me as I was reading:
Mary to Joseph, "Hasn't God always chosen the weak to confound the strong?" and "Think of him. God never chooses as a man would choose." These two sentences grabbed me & made me think. God chose ordinary people, sinners, the most unlikely characters on earth to be his messengers. Why did he do this? to teach us that one need not come from a high station in life, nor have worldly goods or knowledge in order to be effective in His service. Ordinary folks such as you & I are able to carry out His will as well as anyone willing to heed the call of His voice. God's choices confound the world (and often the saints) because we think within the confines of what we "know" - our earthly knowledge & experience. We place boundaries on what we think can be accomplished, not realizing that with God, ALL things are possible!
Joseph speaks of " . . . a return to the relationship Adam had with the Lord in the Garden of Eden." This is what we all desire, whether we're aware of it or not. That communal relationship with our creator is what is missing in our lives. Even though we can enjoy His presence through prayer & reflection on His Word, we have so many other things clamoring for our attention that we do not fully focus our attention on Him. How wonderful it will be to simply bask in His presence, sitting in adoration worshiping him constantly and being filled with joy!
Jesus has told Mary, "Each must choose." She struggles between physically following her favored firstborn and remaining with her other children, who doubt Jesus' claim to be the Son of God. "She must say yes to God and stop counting the cost. Even if it meant giving up her children." She has reached a point where she must follow her heart and hand over her grown children to God, trusting Him to open their eyes & hearts to the truth. This is not an easy thing to do, as many of us parents know all too well!
As Jesus is in the temple, "calling out," so to speak, the scribes & Pharisees: "Mary had never seen Jesus angry, and she trembled a the sight of his wrath." His wrath. These two words reminded me in a HUGE way that Jesus is God! And God's wrath is not to be taken lightly. His wrath destroyed entire cities, tribes, and nations, even the world, save Noah, his sons and their wives.
As Pilate is forcing the masses to choose which prisoner to release: "'Barabbas!'" They wanted violence and bloodshed. They wanted rebellion & hatred against Rome. 'Barabbas!'" The Savior, the Redeemer, the King that most of Israel was anticipating was expected to be a leader of bloody revolution, not of peace & love & righteousness. Ms. Rivers also makes a statement about Pilate's washing of his hands as a mockery of the Jewish ritual of hand washing. I had never thought of it that way before, and while I'm not certain this is historically accurate (the meaning, not the actual washing), it certainly lends a new perspective to the incident. Something to think about and possibly research.
Mary is contemplating the journey of her life, and determines that she is no longer impetuous & impatient, but simply eager for what God will do. We often desire a hasty reply to our prayers & pleas, forgetting that everything happens in God's time, not ours, for He knows what is best. She reflects: "Will you obey, no matter the cost?" "Today I say yes. And today, and today, and today, until there are no more todays left." How profound! An excellent illustration of how we must daily choose to say, "Yes!" Daily we must choose to submit ourselves to His will.
Mary comes to the realization of "How small her dreams had been." This goes back to what I mentioned earlier, that we cannot in our human frame of mind, fathom all that God can do. We can only imagine so big, but He is capable of so much more than that! I, for one, and excited to see just how big He can be!
This book is a very good read, and I highly recommend it. I can hardly wait for Susie to finish the one on Bathsheba so I can start it!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Baby Showers
There was a time I enjoyed things such as baby showers. Back when my kids were being born, I didn't have much of a social life beyond my husband's buddies coming over to hang out. Therefore, I didn't have many folks around to do such a thing as throw a shower for me, although I did have one with the first child, because I was going (reluctantly & sporadically) to my dad's church. It was small, but I liked it nonetheless.
Over the years, I've grown used to saying, "I can't come, but here's a gift." Of course, there are always a few that you just CAN'T get out of, like a close family member's. The other day I went with my sister to a baby shower for her former neighbor, who also happened to be my former neighbor because I lived with my sis for a year. I don't know her well, but I like her well enough, and Sissy didn't want to go alone. (I love doing ANYTHING w/my sissy regardless.)
Susie knew a few people there, but none really well enough to chat with. So we piled up our plates with yummy finger foods and discussed the possible ingredients of some of them. Then we played a few games we've all played before, just with different characters. Thankfully, the guest of honor zipped right through opening the gifts while her twin sister recorded them. My goodness, baby clothes & accessories have come a long way from when mine were due to be born! How did I ever nurse without a Boppy or feed my milk without the bottles that are designed to mimic mom? My kids went around in onesies & drawstring bottomed gowns except when we went to the occasional church service or family get together. They didn't have toys to stimulate their brains or seats to hold them up at the dinner table. That's what mom & dad (& grandparents & aunts & uncles) were for!
Probably the most fun for me was the creativity some folks had with their gifts. The "pacifier" we pinned to our shirts - which could be taken away if anyone caught us saying "baby" - were made of two wintergreen LifeSavers hot glued together with a gumdrop glued to the end. One gift was wrapped with a metal plate on the outside of the box (under the paper) so that magnetic letters could spell out baby's name. Another creative person had their child draw a picture of the impending newcomer & his siblings, which was placed in a lovely frame that had the new child's initials glued to it at the bottom - PRICELESS! Coming away with those ideas for future gifts and some new recipes - along with the QT spent with my sister - were worth every ooh & ahh that night.
Over the years, I've grown used to saying, "I can't come, but here's a gift." Of course, there are always a few that you just CAN'T get out of, like a close family member's. The other day I went with my sister to a baby shower for her former neighbor, who also happened to be my former neighbor because I lived with my sis for a year. I don't know her well, but I like her well enough, and Sissy didn't want to go alone. (I love doing ANYTHING w/my sissy regardless.)
Susie knew a few people there, but none really well enough to chat with. So we piled up our plates with yummy finger foods and discussed the possible ingredients of some of them. Then we played a few games we've all played before, just with different characters. Thankfully, the guest of honor zipped right through opening the gifts while her twin sister recorded them. My goodness, baby clothes & accessories have come a long way from when mine were due to be born! How did I ever nurse without a Boppy or feed my milk without the bottles that are designed to mimic mom? My kids went around in onesies & drawstring bottomed gowns except when we went to the occasional church service or family get together. They didn't have toys to stimulate their brains or seats to hold them up at the dinner table. That's what mom & dad (& grandparents & aunts & uncles) were for!
Probably the most fun for me was the creativity some folks had with their gifts. The "pacifier" we pinned to our shirts - which could be taken away if anyone caught us saying "baby" - were made of two wintergreen LifeSavers hot glued together with a gumdrop glued to the end. One gift was wrapped with a metal plate on the outside of the box (under the paper) so that magnetic letters could spell out baby's name. Another creative person had their child draw a picture of the impending newcomer & his siblings, which was placed in a lovely frame that had the new child's initials glued to it at the bottom - PRICELESS! Coming away with those ideas for future gifts and some new recipes - along with the QT spent with my sister - were worth every ooh & ahh that night.
Pet Devotion
My husband, A.C. & I have a Daushund. Her name is Chloe, and she is overweight, due (mostly) to her being spayed a few years ago. Instead of calling her a weenie dog, I call her a sausage. She is Daddy's Girl, all the way. For some reason, she gets SO excited just to see him come through the door, her little tail not just wagging, but turning around in circles. All he has to do is say, "I love you" and she finds her voice. She will bark in her high-pitched voice until he calms her down. (She also sings along with the "SpongeBob SquarePants" theme song.) She sleeps on his side of the bed, all the way under the covers at his feet.
A.C. acquired Chloe a couple of years before we met. She lived in the same house for her first couple of years, until he & his ex-wife got divorced. He, his daughter, and Chloe moved to his parents' home. Shortly after that, he & I met & made plans to marry. So I moved into the home Chloe knew & loved (while he stayed at his parents') & began preparing for our new life together.
Our home was on a hill, just inside the city limits. In the summertime, you couldn't tell there was anyone around, except for the occasional noise of a car or dogs barking. Our home couldn't be seen from the street, so we were somewhat secluded. There were many trees and all kinds of wildlife - squirrels, foxes, raccoons, birds - could be seen at any given moment. Chloe loved our home on the hill so much that even though she would be excited to go "bye-bye", she would start whining once we got going down the road. On the return trip home, she would start whining & get so excited she (& we) could hardly stand it. By the time we hit our driveway, she was ready to jump out of the window while the car was still moving.
AC recently decided to take a job in GA, so we had to leave TN. There arose the dilemma of what to do with Chloe, as we would be staying with my sister & brother-in-law, and we weren't sure how things would go. My sis-in-law, Angela, was kind enough to do a trial run before we left, and all went well at first. THEN we came over for her son's 18th birthday party & when it was time to leave, OH BOY! Chloe got excited thinking she was going home with Daddy! WE had to have someone leave the room with her, then sneak out. Well, she got so depressed over the next couple of days that we had to bring her home.
My step-daughter was going to split her time between GA & TN (starting w/TN) so we decided to leave Chloe there for the time being. We knew we would have to either bring her with us or have her put to sleep. After talking with my sister, we opted for a trial run in GA. Well, things went okay at first. We came & went with no major incidents. Then came the day I left her in our bedroom & went bowling w/Sissy & her boys . . . I returned home to find the carpet in front of the door in shreds (in patches). I wanted to die of embarrassment!
We started putting her outside when we left. That was okay, until she decided to climb up the back stairs (not an easy feat for an overweight sausage!) and tear through the screen! Now we have a crate to put her in when we leave, and she cries, even when I put her daddy's music (he sings) on for her. Poor lil' sausage!
Last night A.C. & I left to go to Home Depot. Sissy was giving her dog, Melody, and Chloe a treat as a distraction. Well, Chloe went for it - until she heard the door close. Then she squealed at the top of her lungs as we ran for the car & closed the garage door behind us. Of course, she was happy as could be, red tail wagging furiously as daddy asked if she wanted to go outside. Funny thing is, this morning as I was preparing A.C.'s lunch, I noticed her treat on the floor near the door. She forgot all about her treat because we (or HE, rather) left.
Makes you think about the devotion pets have to their people. WHY do they love us so much? Is it just because we're there? Is it because they know we will feed them & take them outside? Is it the belly rubs & snuggles? I love it, but I just don't get it. Do they love us the same way we love one another (only less selfishly)?
A.C. acquired Chloe a couple of years before we met. She lived in the same house for her first couple of years, until he & his ex-wife got divorced. He, his daughter, and Chloe moved to his parents' home. Shortly after that, he & I met & made plans to marry. So I moved into the home Chloe knew & loved (while he stayed at his parents') & began preparing for our new life together.
Our home was on a hill, just inside the city limits. In the summertime, you couldn't tell there was anyone around, except for the occasional noise of a car or dogs barking. Our home couldn't be seen from the street, so we were somewhat secluded. There were many trees and all kinds of wildlife - squirrels, foxes, raccoons, birds - could be seen at any given moment. Chloe loved our home on the hill so much that even though she would be excited to go "bye-bye", she would start whining once we got going down the road. On the return trip home, she would start whining & get so excited she (& we) could hardly stand it. By the time we hit our driveway, she was ready to jump out of the window while the car was still moving.
AC recently decided to take a job in GA, so we had to leave TN. There arose the dilemma of what to do with Chloe, as we would be staying with my sister & brother-in-law, and we weren't sure how things would go. My sis-in-law, Angela, was kind enough to do a trial run before we left, and all went well at first. THEN we came over for her son's 18th birthday party & when it was time to leave, OH BOY! Chloe got excited thinking she was going home with Daddy! WE had to have someone leave the room with her, then sneak out. Well, she got so depressed over the next couple of days that we had to bring her home.
My step-daughter was going to split her time between GA & TN (starting w/TN) so we decided to leave Chloe there for the time being. We knew we would have to either bring her with us or have her put to sleep. After talking with my sister, we opted for a trial run in GA. Well, things went okay at first. We came & went with no major incidents. Then came the day I left her in our bedroom & went bowling w/Sissy & her boys . . . I returned home to find the carpet in front of the door in shreds (in patches). I wanted to die of embarrassment!
We started putting her outside when we left. That was okay, until she decided to climb up the back stairs (not an easy feat for an overweight sausage!) and tear through the screen! Now we have a crate to put her in when we leave, and she cries, even when I put her daddy's music (he sings) on for her. Poor lil' sausage!
Last night A.C. & I left to go to Home Depot. Sissy was giving her dog, Melody, and Chloe a treat as a distraction. Well, Chloe went for it - until she heard the door close. Then she squealed at the top of her lungs as we ran for the car & closed the garage door behind us. Of course, she was happy as could be, red tail wagging furiously as daddy asked if she wanted to go outside. Funny thing is, this morning as I was preparing A.C.'s lunch, I noticed her treat on the floor near the door. She forgot all about her treat because we (or HE, rather) left.
Makes you think about the devotion pets have to their people. WHY do they love us so much? Is it just because we're there? Is it because they know we will feed them & take them outside? Is it the belly rubs & snuggles? I love it, but I just don't get it. Do they love us the same way we love one another (only less selfishly)?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
God Answers Prayer
I had been praying for quite a while for relief for my husband with regard to his work and our finances. I was also asking God to bless AC in all he did. Right before Christmas, we were presented with an opportunity that seemed too good to be true - a job for AC with my brother-in-law's company, the chance to learn a new trade, and a place to stay during the transition.
The hard part in all this is that taking this job meant leaving the only place he'd ever called home. AC's family has lived for generations in Cleveland, TN, and they're all pretty much still there. We prayed, and God opened every door that needed to be opened to enable us to make this change. The one part that was hardest was figuring out how to do this with Megan, my 16 year old step-daughter, who lives with us. We ran through several scenarios, and while each one seemed feasible at the time, one by one they all fell through.
Still praying, and enlisting the prayers of even more believers, Megan has finally decided to move to Loganville to be with us on a permanent basis. She believes this is where God wants her to be, and I feel the same way. (Although I must admit that the selfish flesh part of me wants her here regardless.) There are so many opportunities for her to grow in her faith, through church, her music, and the new friendships that are developing with girls her own age who share her beliefs.
I know God's hand is in this. Too many good things have already happened for it NOT to be His work. Oh, Satan is hard at work, too, trying to steal our joy by manipulating circumstances, but we're not letting him get in our way. We're going to continue to praise God for the good he's doing in our lives, and for the lessons learned through the hardships, too. We'll keep praying for the chance to give God the glory & honor He so richly deserves.
Today I spoke w/Meg, & she's wanting to stay in TN & get a job at Target. I don't feel like it's the right thing for her to do, but I'm going to PRAY & let her father handle this. I understand her wanting to stay near her family, but I feel she's not giving God a chance to work the way He wants to in her life.
Megan is now in GA with us. I'm hoping that the reasons she gave for making this decision are not impulsive. There is so much for her to experience, so much possibility for growth as a Christian as well as a person in general. The exposure to people & experiences she would never have in Cleveland are such that many would gladly trade places with her. There is a tremendous positive influence available that I hope she will welcome.
My God is so good! I cannot begin to say how much I love Him! I know that he is working in our lives in a powerful way. I only hope that I can bring him honor & glory, that he so richly deserves! My heart is full to overflowing with thanksgiving and love for him.
The hard part in all this is that taking this job meant leaving the only place he'd ever called home. AC's family has lived for generations in Cleveland, TN, and they're all pretty much still there. We prayed, and God opened every door that needed to be opened to enable us to make this change. The one part that was hardest was figuring out how to do this with Megan, my 16 year old step-daughter, who lives with us. We ran through several scenarios, and while each one seemed feasible at the time, one by one they all fell through.
Still praying, and enlisting the prayers of even more believers, Megan has finally decided to move to Loganville to be with us on a permanent basis. She believes this is where God wants her to be, and I feel the same way. (Although I must admit that the selfish flesh part of me wants her here regardless.) There are so many opportunities for her to grow in her faith, through church, her music, and the new friendships that are developing with girls her own age who share her beliefs.
I know God's hand is in this. Too many good things have already happened for it NOT to be His work. Oh, Satan is hard at work, too, trying to steal our joy by manipulating circumstances, but we're not letting him get in our way. We're going to continue to praise God for the good he's doing in our lives, and for the lessons learned through the hardships, too. We'll keep praying for the chance to give God the glory & honor He so richly deserves.
Today I spoke w/Meg, & she's wanting to stay in TN & get a job at Target. I don't feel like it's the right thing for her to do, but I'm going to PRAY & let her father handle this. I understand her wanting to stay near her family, but I feel she's not giving God a chance to work the way He wants to in her life.
Megan is now in GA with us. I'm hoping that the reasons she gave for making this decision are not impulsive. There is so much for her to experience, so much possibility for growth as a Christian as well as a person in general. The exposure to people & experiences she would never have in Cleveland are such that many would gladly trade places with her. There is a tremendous positive influence available that I hope she will welcome.
My God is so good! I cannot begin to say how much I love Him! I know that he is working in our lives in a powerful way. I only hope that I can bring him honor & glory, that he so richly deserves! My heart is full to overflowing with thanksgiving and love for him.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Selfishness
This devotional was in my inbox last week. The colors on the words are my addition to Dr. Dollar's exposition. The comments at the end are mine.
(1) This line hit me pretty hard. Selfishness is something I've been fighting with my entire life. As the eldest of 5 children, I had nothing of my own,a nd was always made to share. As a parent, you naturally give/share everything you have. I like to share, but it's kinda nice if folks share back (not that I "do" in order to receive - it's just the flesh nature to say, "What about me?") and I seem to know a lot of people who are takers, not givers. I realize that my selfishness comes from fear - fear of having nothing, fear of being alone, fear of not being accepted. Therefore, I pray daily for God to help me in this area; I have to yield my self over to Him so He can love others through me.
(2) So true! I've said many times throughout my life, even before I was saved, that the things I went through shaped the person I became. There are SO many decisions I wish I could have a "do-over" on. The fact is, however, that those decisions eventually led me to accept Christ, for which I am eternally grateful! I am able to identify with others - both lost & saved - and because of my life experience I am able to minister to them with compassion instead of judgment.
(3) Without love for others, everything we do is in vain. The world will still turn, the sun will still set, people will still do what they do & be who they are, even if we do not love them. But how many lives could possibly be changed if each of us took just one day to be kind to EVERYONE, even those whom we usually avoid or casually dismiss simply because it's easier to do so than to try to love them as Jesus would?
I want to learn to love others well, following in the footsteps of my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!
| Wednesday, February 13, 2008 | ||||
| Yield To Love Dr. Creflo A. Dollar Love and selfishness are the two greatest forces in life. A person chooses to walk in one or the other every day. What many people call love really isn't love at all. Real love-which is agape love or the God kind of love-is unconditional, limitless, selfless and is not based on emotions. It is extremely tolerant. Unfortunately, most people operate in selfishness. They live in human, emotional love, which has limits, is conditional, requires pre-qualification and has to be loved before it can love. Selfishness is the root of all sin, which is based in fear. As a result, our society is experiencing a tremendous amount of lawlessness, perversion and sin. Families are being destroyed because people are engaging in human, emotional love rather than taking the time to learn about and develop in agape love. Selfishness in the home can creep up in so many subtle ways, particularly between a husband and wife. If you are married, here's a newsflash-it's not all about you! Everything in life should not focus around you and your needs, but rather the needs of your spouse. It is important to find balance and compromise within relationships in order to maintain peace in the home. You can kick selfishness out of your home. How? Yield to love. Jesus gave two commandments that are the foundational principles for every commandment in the Bible: "...love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind... love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:7,39). When you keep the law of love, you fulfill all of the laws written in the Bible. Have you made the decision to walk in love so that you will fulfill Jesus' commandment and allow God's spiritual principles to work in your life? Or have you chosen to operate in your own way of doing things? Things don't just happen. Life is a series of decisions that ultimately determine your future. One very important decision every person should make is to be an expression of God's love on the earth. There are two laws that govern life: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which is love; and the law of sin and death, which is selfishness (Romans 8:2). Like curtains on a curtain rod, your deliverance, answered prayers, healing and faith all hang on the rod of love. If you are not walking in God's agape love, then you are limiting what God can do in your life. I encourage you to take the love test by reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. After reading this portion of Scripture, you will know to what extent you have-or have not-yielded your life to love. .. BEGIN MP3 FOOTER - Creflo Dollar --> ..> ..>
| ||||
(1) This line hit me pretty hard. Selfishness is something I've been fighting with my entire life. As the eldest of 5 children, I had nothing of my own,a nd was always made to share. As a parent, you naturally give/share everything you have. I like to share, but it's kinda nice if folks share back (not that I "do" in order to receive - it's just the flesh nature to say, "What about me?") and I seem to know a lot of people who are takers, not givers. I realize that my selfishness comes from fear - fear of having nothing, fear of being alone, fear of not being accepted. Therefore, I pray daily for God to help me in this area; I have to yield my self over to Him so He can love others through me.
(2) So true! I've said many times throughout my life, even before I was saved, that the things I went through shaped the person I became. There are SO many decisions I wish I could have a "do-over" on. The fact is, however, that those decisions eventually led me to accept Christ, for which I am eternally grateful! I am able to identify with others - both lost & saved - and because of my life experience I am able to minister to them with compassion instead of judgment.
(3) Without love for others, everything we do is in vain. The world will still turn, the sun will still set, people will still do what they do & be who they are, even if we do not love them. But how many lives could possibly be changed if each of us took just one day to be kind to EVERYONE, even those whom we usually avoid or casually dismiss simply because it's easier to do so than to try to love them as Jesus would?
I want to learn to love others well, following in the footsteps of my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)