Month: February 2022

John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I have two songs lyrics stuck in my head right now. One is “What the world needs now is love sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” The other one is, “And they’ll know we are Christians, by our love, by our love. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” So let me ask you something, do they know you are a Christian?

Our pastor recently taught on love and how it is messy. The idea of loving someone seems so easy until you come to the love part. It is kind of like people always saying you are still in the honeymoon phase of your relationship. Love doesn’t really happen until you have to show it!

This brings me to a favorite seen in one of my favorite movies, Yours, Mine, and Ours. Henry Fonda is helping his pregnant and in labor wife (Lucille Ball) down the steps while explaining to his teenage daughter what love is. Her boyfriend has been pressuring her to have sex ‘because they are in love.’ Henry tells her, “It’s giving life that counts. Until you’re ready for it, all the rest is just a big fraud. All the crazy haircuts in the world won’t keep it turning. Life isn’t a love-in – it’s the dishes, and the orthodontist, and the shoe repairman, and… ground round instead of roast beef. And I’ll tell you something else: It isn’t going to a bed with a man that proves you’re in love with him; it’s getting up in the morning and facing the drab, miserable, wonderful everyday world with him that counts!

Showing up on Sunday doesn’t prove you are a Christian. It is the everyday love you hand our even when you are tired, exhausted, angry, or hurt. It is showing
up and loving everyone Monday through Sunday. That is what really counts.

Lord, help me show love always and to everyone. I want them to know I am a Christian by my love! ~amen

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2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Stress just might be the leading cause of death. Well according to the National Institute of Mental Health continued strain on your body from routine stress is often the hardest to detect but could lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder, as well as other illnesses. Stress is something we can never escape. It is a natural process in our body. The world is full of stressful triggers that we cannot avoid. So, in reality, it isn’t the stress that is the bad thing. It is what we do with that stress that causes the problem.

Today’s verses talk about two different types of stress. One stress is presented to someone that causes a prick of guilt or regret. However, the Christian knows exactly how to handle it. He repents. He feels sorry and goes to God. He makes amends where he can. Even when it is not their doing, they are quick to forgive others. Other people may come across this exact same stress. They feel guilty, maybe because they were wrong and maybe because they got caught. They hold grudges, get angry, and maybe even retaliate. All of this leads right to all of those physical and mental stresses on the body that quickly start paying a toll on it.

Stress is all around us. We can choose to let it drive us to God or into the ground. Life is too short to miss a moment of it. Maybe today, you can choose to “Don’t worry! Be Happy!”

Lord, today I choose to run to You when I feel stressed. I know you will take my worries and turn them into happiness! ~amen

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1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

The year is 1986. The setting is a Japanese martial arts dojo, with cut and fade scenes of the movie The Karate Kid Part II. The song playing is Glory of Love by Peter Cetera. Memories! This song was my teenage girl anthem, like many other young girls of the time. So, was the movie . . . LOL! I mean who wouldn’t fall in love with Ralph Macchio fighting for you! If you don’t know the song here are a few words:

I am a man who will fight for your honor
I’ll be the hero you’re dreaming of
We’ll live forever
Knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love

So what does this have to do with today’s verses? Easy, love has to be the motive behind anything we do. There is no glory or honor in any action that is not done out of love. You can donate all your time, money, or a kidney and it is meaningless to you. Will it help those you have donated to, yes. However, the gesture is forced and not done out of free will.

When someone does something out of love,, they don’t do it for recognition, or a pat on the back They do it just to bring a smile to people’s faces including their own!

Lord, I want every choice I make out of love. Please remind me when I need to step back and rethink my motives. ~amen

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2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

I can bet that when you read today’s verses, several people come to mind. At least I hope that is true. What about you? Do you come to mind? Are you brag-worthy? Is your faith growing more and more? Is your love for others increasing? How strong are your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you have endured?

I am not writing today to shame anyone. Remember, I always write these to make myself think and include you on my journey. When I read this today, I asked myself these questions. I wasn’t trying to make myself feel bad or bring shame to myself. I wasn’t even trying to judge myself. I certainly was not comparing myself to anyone. I honestly just wanted to figure out if I have grown over the years and am I still growing. I am happy to say the answer was YES!

You see the two most important words in these two verses are ‘growing’ and ‘perseverance’. Christianity has never been about perfection. We will never reach perfection until we make it to Heaven. Life on Earth is about moving forward. Keep on, keeping on! Do I have things to work on? Oh my yes! But I am
growing! How about you? Will you keep
growing with me?

Lord, I hope I will always be brag-worthy in Your eyes. I want to persevere and keep growing every day! ~amen

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Matthew 5:46-47
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Middle School and High School are social nightmares for many kids. In middle school, it is trying to find out who you are and in high school, it is finding “your people”. However, it is not the only place where you will find the “mean girls” and the cliques. Don’t kid yourself for one moment that we all grow out of it.

Look around at any gathering of people and you will still find they divide themselves up into sections. They talk together, sit together, eat together, and don’t often stretch themselves out into other pods. Now, hopefully, you don’t run into the “mean girls” very often, but they most certainly do exist.

Yes, we can even do this in churches or as Christians in general. We hang with “our kind”. Fellowship is a wonderful thing and a very necessary part of life. However, we need to make sure that fellowship is not an inclusive relationship. How are we supposed to reach others and spread the love of Christ if we are always loving on and talking to the same human beings day after day (or Sunday after Sunday!)

I challenge you today to introduce yourself to someone new. You may become friends or you may just bring a smile to a passing face. Either way, you have shown love to someone else. Spread God out today. You never know, you might even reach the heart of a “mean girl”!

Lord, send me someone to show love and friendship to today! ~amen

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1 Peter 3:8-9
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Today’s verses are from a lecture Christians were getting from Peter. In my Bible, it is titled “Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society”. Boy, we could use a dose of this today. We have not learned how to live and get along. I am not talking about getting along with non-Christians. I mean amongst ourselves!

You see these verses were the final thoughts. Peter was telling them they needed to be like-minded, sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate, and humble towards each other. Believe it or not, different denominations are nothing new. It was also very easy for these new Christians to slip right back into their Jewish Legalistic habits. You know the “Thou Shalt and Shalt Nots!” No, I am not talking about the Ten Commandments. I am talking about in order to get to Heaven you must dress this way, talk this way, eat this food, blow your nose with the right nostril first and only on the third Tuesday of the month . . . LOL!

How are we to show the world God, if we can’t stop bickering amongst ourselves. We need to be the examples. We can’t expect them to not repay evil or insults with more evil and insults if we
can’t stop it first! It is time to grow up
Christians and learn to love one another.

Lord, help me lay my differences down and love those around me. Your kingdom does not require a bunch of rules. We are only required to spread Joy through loving Jesus, Others, and then Yourself!

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Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

I don’t want to just be the woman who straightens her crown. I want to be the kinda woman that straightens other women’s crowns and reminds them just whose daughters they are! Can you imagine a world where we quit judging each other by our looks? We didn’t see “that girl” walking down the street and assume we know who she is. Can you look in the mirror and not see the too fat, too skinny, too old, too young, pimples, lined or scarred face woman? Can you not watch TV or look at the magazine and compare yourself or others? Why do we do this?!?!?!

For one day, just 24 little hours, I want to challenge you to not let those unwholesome thoughts about others or yourself come out of your mouth or stick around in your head. When the thought pops up, immediately think of something nice you could say instead, even if you don’t actually say it. However, if you want to take it to a whole new level, say the nice thing. If you do say it, I am going to tell you right now, your day will be filled with smiles!

Come on! Let me help you straighten that crown. Then you reach out and straighten someone else’s. Together we will create a world of beautiful and
exceptional women. By the way, guys
feel free to jump in!

Lord, bring to me today a woman who could use a little help reminding her just how beautiful and wonderful she is!
~amen

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Romans 5:5
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

There is nothing wrong with being a positive person. You have no idea what is going to happen in the future, so why not spend today hoping for the best. Let’s say tomorrow you are going to die. If you knew that, what would you do? Would you spend the time worrying about it? Would you be all sad and upset for the next 24 hours? I hope I wouldn’t. I actually know I wouldn’t. I would do everything I could to make the next 24 hours the most spectacular time I had with my family and friends.

So, now let me ask you this. You have no idea if you have the next 24 hours or 24 years ahead of you. You have two choices. You can spend each hour in gloom, worry, hatred, and darkness OR you can fill them with love, hope, and beauty. I know which I would rather do with my time.

Now, let’s talk about those dark times. We all go through them. They are a part of life. We have two choices here also. We can let go of all hope and slip deeper into the darkness OR we can hang on to our hope. We can hope for a brighter hour heading our way as we sit in the darkness right now. We can hold on to the hope that God is working and still in control. He sees us right where we are and is holding on to us.

Hope never puts you to shame, because God loves you and is pouring out all His love into your heart. The Holy Spirit is right by your side and sitting in that darkness
holding you and reminding you the calvary is
on the way! So keep your hope alive!

Lord, I am holding on for a brighter day. I do not want to spend my days sulking. I want to hang on to my hope. ~amen

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Matthew 23:37-39
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Do you hear the frustration and sorrow in Jesus’ voice when you read today’s verses? He has spent several years trying to reach the Jews at this time. He had done many miracles and preached all over. Yet, the Pharisees and Sadducees still dogged His every step. They continued to complain about everything He did. They were even looking for a reason to kill Him. Through all of this, Jesus still loved them and cared for them. He was showing concern over them.

So, what do you do when you have tried everything and someone still shows just how much they hate you,? Perhaps you want to reach out and throttle them. I would never feel that way, she says with sarcasm! I know it is very tempting, VERY, VERY tempting, to throw that hatred right back at them. Please don’t. Take a breath and remember who you are. You are saved and loved by God. You have been given grace for all of your evil hatred thoughts. What makes you any better than them?

Forgiving and moving on does can literally mean, moving on from a relationship. When you move on though, hold on to the grace. Love them enough to
keep praying. You may just be one prayer
away from them changing.

Lord, I want to pray for those who continue to hurt me. Help me to forgive them and move on in my life. I pray that someone will reach them and open their eyes to You. ~amen

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Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

What is your motive? I have asked myself this several times lately. Hmmm. . . Maybe it was actually God asking me. It all had to do with me wanting to open my mouth and talk to someone. I had to stop myself and ask, why do I want to talk to this person. Am I honestly looking for advice? Am I wanting to inform them for their own good? Am I just looking for pity and wanting attention? Am I just wanting to spread gossip? Wow! Did I have an eye-opener when I put my conversations under a microscope!

I don’t normally think of myself as a selfish person. I like to do things for others. I love making sure the people in my life are taken care of when I can. However, like most people, I tend to just go through life and don’t always think about my motivations. Try it some time, you may just be surprised!

God has told us not to do anything out of selfish ambition. He was not saying we shouldn’t take care of ourselves, or we don’t matter. He was simply saying we need to learn to get along with others. We need to think of them and their needs, not just
what we want. We need to be reminded from time to time the world does not revolve around us.

Lord, show me when I am being selfish. I want to care for others and learn to live in love and peace like you have called us to do.

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