Chew on this one while I get my next post together…

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives],” 2 Corinthians 5:2a

What does it mean to be an ambassador? Think about what the job entails. What is expected? What is undertaken?  Are you being a proper representative of the One you serve?

More coming soon…

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

 

Think about it: Love (its strong, always-believing-the-best hope) is fadeless (doesn't weaken or falter in the slightest) under all circumstances...ALL circumstances...come what may. It endures everything without weakening.

 WOW...does your love for others (everyone) endure everything without weakening? What would that look like? It would take a lot humility and quick forgiveness that’s for sure. Allowing others to be human and make mistakes even if that means your feelings get hurt in the process…not bringing every perceived weakness to someone's attention...believing the best of everyone, instead of insisting you know what they really meant! Whoo...believe me...I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone...but trust me...when we can humble ourselves, put others first and display this Love at all times, our relationships are sooooo much better!

Here's a motto we would do good to hang on to: "Everyone Everything." Meaning we are to love everyone and endure and forgive everything.

Just something to think about....

 

Think about Love

Let's stick with this one a bit longer...

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

 

What does it mean (look like) to bear up under anything and everything that comes?

Think about it...Are you ever ready to believe the best of everyone? It is somehow much easier to believe the best about ourselves. We never really meant to do that or say that or to offend someone. Perhaps this is a great explanation of some of what Christ was talking about when He said we should love others the same way we love ourselves. hummm...

Do you give people the benefit of the doubt, or do you live in a constant state of suspicion? A lot of arguments and tension could be avoided if we would choose to believe the best of others and just go on instead of creating huge scenarios in our minds of what we "know" the other person was thinking.

Look for opportunities this week to believe the best of those you come in contact with. Trust me, you'll have plenty of chances! The instant you feel yourself getting offened let these words cross your lips, "I will not be easily offended. I will believe the best of every person and trust in the Lord to vindicate me if and when necessary. As for my part, I will walk in love!" This will make the devil so mad!! :)

LOVE

Hi all! Hope you had a great summer and are ready for this week of incredible weather! My favorite time of year is upon us. We are going to dive back into our quest of spiritual character building with the theme the Lord has been leading me to focus on and study over the past month...Love...not the feeling but the calling, not the emotion but the decision. As we go thru passages that may be familiar, I pray you will see them in new light, that the Lord will call you to come up higher and that you will eagerly and devoutly accept the challenge!
 

Here is the first verse of this series (we'll be using the Amplified version in the hopes that we'll see familiar scripture in challenging new ways.) :

 

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

 

 

Ok...Write it. Say it. Sing it. Whatever you need to do to get about hiding these words in your heart. The word of God is alive and active and will not return void. May it enter our hearts and transform our lives from the inside out!

 

 

More coming soon...

Get to Know Him

This morning in my “God-Time” I was directed to this verse that really jumped out at me.

“The person who has my commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father and I too will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and will make myself real to him.]” John 14:21

One of my greatest desires is to more clearly know Christ. And here it is. This is the key. And how do we have His commands? By continually studying the Bible and learning (and remembering) what His commands are. Then we can stand on the promise of this verse! He WILL make Himself clear to us.

I have written this verse out on a note card that I plan to put where I will see it often throughout the day and commit it to memory. I encourage you to do the same. God’s Word is full of life-giving and life-changing promises like this one. He is so good!

I’m going to be taking a blogging break for the summer. Will see you back here in September!

Enjoy life!

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it ^[a]overflows).” John 10:10

“And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].” John 17:13

Are you enjoying this day?? Are you enjoying your life? You should be! We should all be enjoying every day of our lives. It is our right as children of God. But we don’t get to just sit around and wait for God to make all our problems go away before we start to enjoy life.  Jesus didn’t come so that everything in our lives would be great, but so that we don’t have to worry when they’re not!

Decide that you are going to enjoy your life in spite of your circumstances. It is a choice not a feeling. Together let’s decide that no matter what happens, if God says we can enjoy our lives, we’re going to do just that! What a better way to live!

“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” John 14:27

More Promises!

God is so good. He desires a great relationship with us, not merely a blanket policy to the world as a one collective body, but a true, deep, personal relationship with each one of us individually.  Merely the privilege of connecting with the God of the universe should be enough to motivate us, but He doesn’t stop there. He promises to give us so much more!

Take time to read and reread the following scripture. These are just a few of the many promises for us found in God’s Word. As you read these give Him thanks and commit to doing your part to earnestly and diligently seek and serve Him. You will not go unrewarded!

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 cor 2:9

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10

“But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” Hebrews 11:6