Month: February 2016

Watched

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John 13: 34, 35.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
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As Christ loved and does love, so we must love and accept others unconditionally. It’s been said that pastors and leadership live in a fishbowl, and it’s true as every action is pretty much known by the flock, but really, whether we like it or not, all Christians are transparent. We are watched, sized up and evaluated by other believers as well as non believers. If they don’t like what they see, we quickly get labeled as the hypocrite. What do others see when they view our lifestyle, and our attitude towards others? Evidence of love for others in our lives is far reaching and will affect the way we live our lives. It will affect our behavior, our grace giving, our values, our trust and our attitude. Love is the base of our salvation and is truly evidence of an authentic, true relationship with a God who IS Love.

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Walking The Love Walk

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1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

” If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Such in-depth verses to ponder as we come closer to Valentine’s Day in this month of hearts and roses and love. Let’s get it right! Love isn’t just a romantic word to toss about carelessly, because we can but a genuine attribute of in-depth quality! An exquisite attribute that infiltrates every area of our living.

Lord help us not to be just a loud noise, full of ourselves, trying desperately to appear like we have some kind of religion, and some kind of power and some kind of knowledge laced with good works. Our love for one another and for the world has to go deeper than the talk and get right into the nitty, gritty of our beautiful soul ~ where we live it and breathe it daily. The whole foundation of our Christ walk is love. The whole message of the Bible is love. Pure, unconditional love in every aspect of our living. Help us to seek Your counsel for wisdom on how to best demonstrate it to a vast,hurting world ~ and customize it to action in our own, little worlds lest we fall into the shortcoming of “good intentions.” Help us to lay pride and self on the altar, before we move out to love a vulnerable world with an unconditional love that only You can give. ~k

Stan Michalski in Power For Living says
“We may think we’re dazzling others with our talents, accomplishments, counsel, knowledge, humor, convictions, strength, and personality, but there is really only one thing people will notice about us.

“Do we Care?

If their evaluation is YES we will have a significant effect on their life. If their evaluation is NO, our many qualifications will not deeply impress them. Our expertise may even rankle them a bit.”
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Promise To Protect


Psalm 18:1, 2.
“For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

God’s promise to protect His people rings loud and clear through the ages and pages of history and still remains strong for us to claim today. He had rescued David from his enemies and David was filled with gratitude and awe for God’s hand of protection and divine intervention. In these verses he used five military symbols to characterize God and His divine care. He is like a rock (safety) that can’t be moved by anyone who wishes to harm us. He is a fortress (a place of peaceful defense) where we can find rest yet the enemy can’t follow. He is as a shield coming between us and danger. He is as a horn of salvation; a symbol of might, power and victory and a stronghold, lifting us high above our enemies.
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Oh beautiful soul, What an awesome place to be in times of trouble when the enemy is preparing weapons for battle against us. In such times we must remember God is all we need! He is “ALL” we need! His love is steadfast, faithful and unending. His love is secure, His grace is sustaining and immeasurable and yeah, His victory is already won! If you will find rest in Him you will find peace, because Isaiah 54: 17 gives the promise that no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.”

Our God is a faithful God and in His almighty hand of deliverance, and sure victory we can join in David’s victory and praise as we find protection, shelter and salvation from the storms that threaten.

❤ ❤ ❤

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Seeing More Clearly

Seeing More Clearly

Some days after the storm settles somewhat, the light comes and the mind sees maybe a bit more clearly after the gale dies down.

Has it happened to you? You know, when you’ve been beaten up against a brick wall of hopelessness, in just plain, crazy, life situations and then God comes through with His take on the picture, and whispers into your heart some kind of peace and some kind of courage even in the midst of whatevers going down? A new light on the subject, a new promise, a new scripture verse, a new way of seeing things, a new angle, a new thought or a few new thoughts ~ thoughts more powerful than the battle itself because God enlightened and His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways.

There is hope in every situation
hope in every situation

His battles are won without wars and His peace passes all understanding. Yeah, even in the midst of everything and in the heat of dreadful battle, His peace trumps the churning strife and turmoil of what the world threatens. So, trust then and rest when the storm settles, and let Him speak in His still, small voice into your beautiful soul. Let Him enlighten your mind and open your heart to a new thought, a new counsel, a quiet view, a tranquil heart. Allow Him to renew your tender spirit and free it to soar to new heights regardless of that bleak and daunting stuff lurking in the corners. Yeah, just rest now, and wait for His timing and His winning team to play it right and come out on top.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31

❤ ❤ ❤

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