LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOUR SORRY....HUH!!

 

This may make a great movie line from the seventies but is has no bearing in real life relationships. If you have hurt somone you love, be it a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, or friend you need to admit it and go to the person and restore this relationship. Sometimes people mess up and some people have trouble asking forgiveness and saying they are sorry. If you are the one who has been hurt by someone you are close to, you can choose to dwell on it or you can move on. True, it is not right when someone has done something and will not admit they have hurt you, but to dwell on it only causes a huge divide. Eventually if it happens to be in a marriage relationship you may need counseling for this issue as it can not continue to be buried if there is an underlying cause.

If you know you have hurt someone and you claim to be a Christian ask yourself what would Jesus do? We all know the answer to that. He would admit his mistake and seek to heal the relatioship before it was wounded any more. Many fights in marriages could be avoided if the couples truly prayed together and read their Bibles together and would admit it when they were wrong. The real culprit in all arguments and misunderstandings is the enemy Satan trying to divide and destroy because that is his specialty.

Sometimes you may have hurt a friend and they refuse to want to be your friend anymore. You have to move on. Pray for the person. Try to love them regardless of how they feel about you.

Most all types of relationships could be wonderful and happy and strong if people did not always try to get their own way. If all of us who claim to love Jesus and follow Him would stop each day and pick up that instruction manual, otherwise known as the Bible, there would be much less conflict. If husbands would treat their wives like Christ treated the church, there would be a much lower divorce rate. If people would put the other person first all the time and think of nice things to do, that would help as well. If you are just starting out a new marriage, begin the right way and make it a point to not take each other for granted, ever! Read the instruction manual and read it together. Take time and read Ephesians Chapter 6 and 1 Corinthians 13. Choose to love and choose to forgive.

If you are reading this and some type relationship you are in seems to be a one way battle all you can really do is pray. Keep seeking Christ. Keep reading your Bible. Try to control the urge to fight or yell as then Satan has you right where he wants you . Overcome evil with good it says in Romans 12:21. As hard as it is sometimes when you are hurt you have to throw off anger. Just think of this as spiritual warfare. Satan is the author of lies, deception, hate, confusion and every evil work. God is all about love, peace, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, mercy, self control and grace. Satan is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We have a choice. We can choose to love and forgive or we can choose to be angry, hateful, vindictive and give Satan more power in our lives.

What is your choice today? Joy, love. peace, forgiveness and moving on or hatred, anger and bitterness? Matthew 5:44(NIV) simply says 'But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Now just go and do it with God's strength!

PRAYER:Lord Jesus I know you made me to love and show mercy to others. I know in life people may hurt me but I can choose to fight and be angry or I can choose to let it go and move on. I can choose to harbor hate and anger or choose to be kind to those who may want to mistreat me. It is hard, so I need your strength Lord. I know Lord we are in a battle between God and the devil. Fighting is not a fruit of the holy spirit but love is. I choose to love, regardless. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a powerful song to get your weekend started off right.

http://youtu.be/GsjJmk7tdk4

HIDDEN HURTS

As I sat in church one Sunday watching folks go to the altar for
prayer it struck me how so many people are walking around with hurts
and issues that we will never know about. The ache or wound is hidden
deep inside them. At times you can not tell this by looking at their
faces as some are rather good at concealing what they are going
through.

It may be easy to judge people who we think look or seem different

but then too we do not know their story and we are not to
be the judge. Many people outwardly react to things in different

ways. Judging someones appearance, heart, or actions is not right.

Who made us the judge anyway?

Pain sometimes is hidden deep inside and may even need a professional
Christian counselor to draw out.

I think of the street corner scenario or end of exit ramp where
typically, in most cities, there is someone with a sign that reads
'Will work for food' or something to that affect. Many feel these
people are all scamming us collecting tax free money and taking in
more than an ordinary person would make. If you feel led to give to
someone, that is their problem if they have lied and deceived you.They
will answer to God and your heart was right. Maybe some of them are
legitimate. Only God knows.

How about the young woman selling her body for prostitution. What
awful kind of life would lead a person to do this? We need to be in
prayer for these people and the business owners who misuse them. Maybe
the Hollywood celebrity that is in and out of court for drugs or DUI.
Instead of feeding your mind on it by indulging in gossip magazines,
have you ever considered praying for these people instead? When you
pray for someone you are much less likely to be judging and condemning
them.

Let me leave you with a couple verses from Matthew 22:26-40(NIV) which
says 'Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus
replied, love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the Second is like it, Love your neighbor as
yourself. All the Law and The Prophets hang on these two
commandments.'

PRAYER: Lord today I choose to pray instead of judge and condemn. All
people are deserving of love. Many wounded are wandering around
without hope. You Lord give that hope. Use me Lord to bring hope to a
hurting person. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a worshipful song:
http://youtu.be/jM8RN8RbZhE

RESTORATION NOT CONDEMNATION

 Are you perfect? Never ever messed up? Then if so no need to read any further. Most of us would admit we have done something stupid and not really holy at one time or another.The saying goes when you point your finger condemning someone or judging them, look out as your other fingers are left pointing back at you.

The good news is God allows second chances, third chances and even more chances to get it right. He wants you to restored, refreshed, renewed, and redeemed. Do not allow the lies of the enemy to defeat you making you feel you can not start over and get close to God. Even when human relationships fail us God is there. He loves you with an everlasting love.

1 Peter 5:10 is one of my favorite verses given to me during a hard time in my life and it says "After you have suffered a little while the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you." If that is not a verse of promise what is? 1 Corinthians 6:10-11 says "nor thieves,nor the greedy,nor drunkards, nor reviles,nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. But such were some of you but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of God." Basically this verse is warning us to not be so high and mighty thinking we have 'arrived' but let's us know God can set us free and heal our brokenness.

Let me conclude with Psalm 107:20 which says "He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction."

 Do you need a touch from God today? He is only a prayer away.

 PRAYER: Lord thank you so much for the times you are there to pick me up when I fall and you set me back on the right path. I choose to believe you and not the lies of Satan. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link to worship the Lord in song. Be blessed.
http://youtu.be/UzK5y5T5v64

VALUABLE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

 I saw a church sign recently that read 'Lost Battles Teach Valuable Lessons'. Oh how true that is. When we are at our lowest point sometimes is when we learn the greatest lessons of life. Trouble has a way of teaching us things. The best lessons of life sometimes are learned when we have to get on our knees in prayer. Things are going along great then something bad happens. Life takes a U Turn as the saying goes. Do we fall apart or do we 'get up little soldier' and keep going?

When you fall in a mud puddle you do not just stay there and get all dirty and wet but you get up out of the muck and go wash off. Same thing in life. Things happen and sometimes they are very hurtful but as in the Army they call it 'lessons learned', in life too it is a valuable teacher. When we are at our lowest point is sometimes when we reach out to God the most, or at least it should be that way. Also in the military it is called 'foxhole religion' but unlike in foxhole religion where it is a passing prayer "Oh Lord Get me out of this and I will serve you forever"  when bad things happen, if we run to God and get into the word and learn, then we do get stronger for what we have gone through.

 Sonia Lee, a singer out of Nashville who I heard perform at Nashville's famed  Bluebird Cafe a few years ago has a wonderful song called "Trouble Is The Best Teacher I Know" and there was a time in my life where that song helped me get through some rough times. Trouble is truly a teacher. If we did not ever have a problem how would we learn and get stronger? Think of the palm tree that weathers hurricane force winds yet still bends with the winds and remains standing. We too get beat around at times but we lean on the Lord and He alone is our strength and comforter when we have nothing else. For some that is literal. For instance the prisoner who has no one else to talk to.

My blog is called God's Lemonade Stand meaning it is a way to bring refreshment to weary souls but the other kind of lemonade you hear about in Christian circles is God making lemonade out of the 'lemons' of life.  Those lemons need doctored up a bit before they are sweet enough to enjoy as a beverage. God does heal our hurts and calm our weary hearts. He will see you through. Trust him. Time is a healer.

When problems in life overwhelm us go to the rock, meaning Jesus. Get into his word as it is only through the word of God that comfort can come. Psalm 92:19 says "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." Isaiah 66:13 says "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

PRAYER: Father I need you today and every day. I do not need to wait til overwhelmed with the issues of life but I need you in good times and bad. Thank you for the hope and comfort only you give. I look to you as my strength father. I will not worry when problems come because you are bigger than any of life's problems. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link to listen to a wonderful praise song. I have included two today since it is Sunday for you to enjoy and worship the Lord with.
http://youtu.be/JmVxRl5bc4Y

http://youtu.be/cIvDCV4e318