Love In A World Of Hatred

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.1 John 2:15-16 NIV Bible Gateway

Seems this world we live in is antagonistic toward the believer or a person who would dare stand up for fighting evils in our culture. The anger can even come from a family member who doesn’t understand why you aren’t sucked into the culture and its’ lies too. 

This hatred can cause you to be labeled critical or judgmental because you don’t buy into the lies of those whose heart is hard and who is in love with the darkness even though they may not think so. 

You press on to pray for school students, do prayer walks, and ignore ugly comments and being unfriended or blocked because you are ‘mean spirited’ and too religious. Sound familiar to anyone? Just keep praying my friend no matter how much you are being mocked or ridiculed. Prayer works. 

PRAYER: Father please help those I know who don’t care much about you and call people who do religious because of their lack of understanding. I pray for a massive revival to break out and many get saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

What Is Love?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.1 Corinthians  13:4-7

Many people use Valentines Day to celebrate romantic love between a man and a woman such as proposing on this day, getting married on this day but one thing my younger son used to say when he was  single is you don’t ask a girl out on Valentines Day or they get the wrong idea. 

So is this a Hallmark holiday? Yes. Play along make florists, candy sellers, and restaurants profitable on this day. But stop and think about what love really is. Romantic love for singles doesn’t mean you run hook up with someone and have sexual relations. God’s gift of sex is being destroyed and those who use it wrongly pay a huge penalty emotionally. 

Love is the definition found in the Bible verses I included for today. The culture tries to mess with the word ‘love’ and confuse people. Satan has tried to destroy the very Biblical foundation of love. Do nice things, put others above yourself, show respect. That is love. 

PRAYER: No one likes to be alone so throughout time men and women get together and form a union as man and wife. Love in this Biblical sense is true love. Putting the other first, sharing, giving. Help me as I seek to show friends and strangers Christian love. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Take A Love Pause

“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 with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV)

The verse above is often inserted into Christian wedding ceremonies. If only it could be readily applied and followed not only with a husband and wife but with life in general.

Satan loves to stir up hate and dissent. He is the little weasel mastermind behind any and all of the horrible conflicts occurring on American soil right now. It is not about people but it is about spiritual warfare and demonic spirits who have taken people captive to create havoc. If only people would follow God’s word but destructive spirits will have none of it.

Lots of mean ugly people are out there my friend. Don’t cave to their level of being mean back but instead pray that damage, hate, destruction and evil will cease. Pray for those causing trouble to find Jesus and kick Lucifer out of their life. God and the devil can not co-exist. Read the verse today over and over until you feel it becoming part of you. Is this how you want to be with friends, family, and strangers? Then make it happen.

PRAYER: Your name Lord is above every other name. I need not fear destruction and terror because I have a mighty God and I know who wins in the end. Help me Lord to be strong amongst those who are acting up. Give me kindness even for those who are not kind back. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Love In This Crazy World

 “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” 1 John 4:11-12.

It is a crazy world we live in today when what was right is being called wrong and many are being deceived and sucked into this wrong politically correct belief system which is far from God’s word. People get ugly and mean and attack. My friend this is not of God but straight from the pit of Hell. 

When a sitting Congresswoman encourages hatred by asking her followers to attack those leaders who don’t believe as she does that is indeed the epitome of evil. What we believers need to do is not chime in with the vitriol and hate spewing forth but pray and show love. Keep in mind deceiving spirits have captivated many, some maybe in your own family, to not hear the truth. It is a battle of good versus evil, spiritual warfare, don’t be fooled. 

Psalm 35:20 says “For they do not speak peace but they devise deceitful matters against  the quiet ones in the land.” Are you able to love and pray for your enemies?  I am talking about people wanting you to trip and fall. Those crooked people who seem to get by with doing wrong. My friend now is the time for love and in a big way. Don’t let the forces of darkness keep you from praying and loving. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus we are commanded to pray for our enemies and to love those who are against us. A tall order for sure when humanly I feel like being ugly. Calm my heart Lord and help me remember you are indeed in control. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Love, Be Kind, Forgive

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 John 4:8

I used to have a hard time telling my friends I loved them. Not sure why but now it is done easily. It is simple to love when love is returned but difficult to do when you know the other person may not like you. Also it sometimes is hard to love an individual who is a tyrant, bully,  or just plain evil and mean. But the Bible tells us to love. 

An exercise in love would be to pray for your enemies and those who do evil and even curse you. It tells us that in Matthew 5:44. It is hard as I well know. Somehow when you do this you feel better. Maybe a hard relationship at work. Perhaps tension in a relationship married or otherwise. God has a way of setting you free when you are able to love, show kindness, and forgive. 

Whether you feel like it or not in your quiet time think of those people hard to love or those you need to forgive and release to God. 

PRAYER: Thank you for the power to love through you and in turn share kindness. It is hard so give me your strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God 'Likes' You And Won't Unfriend You

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Psalm 27:10

I am trying to get beyond the unfriending thing on Facebook. Just the other day I noticed I no longer could contact someone and noted they have removed me from their friends list. Perhaps they deactivated their account all together. It is kind of funny in someways to think this type of 'friend' thing really holds that much weight. But being unfriended is rejection no matter what the reason was.

Just remember this. God never rejects you. God loves you unconditionally. You can never drive God nutty. God does not say "You're stalking me". God does not say "Respect my boundaries".  God does not say "Get out of my face". Above all God cares and understands.. Sure His heart breaks when we do not obey Him and when we reject Him but He is waiting for you with arms wide open.

Are you hurting today because of any form of rejection? Just know God loves you more than anything. Go to Him in prayer and let Him take your scars and turn them into stars.

PRAYER: Father I thank you so much for loving me. Humans can hurt us and that makes you sad. Help me to grow despite any pain of rejection I have experienced in my lifetime. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Building Blocks of Love

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant. 1 Corinthians 13:4

I love to go to Christian weddings. Typically 1 Corinthians 13 is a chapter the man and woman have chosen to have the minister, priest, or judge read from. It is filled with so many good things. If only the couple will leave the wedding ceremony and make that chapter come alive in their lives on a daily basis and not forget it at the wedding altar. If both parties routinely did what it said, it may put divorce lawyers out of business. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Love is not about trying to get your own way. Love puts the other person first. So many do this when they are newlyweds but then in some cases complacency sets in. This type of love  is the foundational building block in a solid marriage. Also  life in general takes putting others above yourself. 

Are your building blocks of love solid or in need of repair?  God can help you show this kind of love to those you find hard to love whether married or single.

PRAYER: The word love is often overused or misused.  I want to love with your love Jesus, no matter what. This means putting up with those who I do not agree with and trying to be merciful to all. Give me your strength. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Mean People Deserve Love Too

And the second is this. 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:39

Allot of you may think my title is ridiculous. "No way Becky. People who treat me mean do not deserve my love at all! Why should I love someone who talks down to me and acts like they can't stand me."  Why indeed! Maybe because God says to? Love covers a multitude of sins it says in 1 Peter 4:8. Love has a transcending power through cultures and generations. Showing love can break through the hardest exterior.

Sometimes even when you show love you may not instantly get love back but keep on showing love. Whether to an unloving and verbally abusive spouse, a arrogant clerk,a rude disrespectful child who was taught otherwise, or anyone you encounter who just seems less than joyful.

Love has the power to heal a wounded heart. Love is from God therefore when we see examples of the beheadings by the ISIS rebels we know there's no part of our Holy God Jehovah Jireh living in them.God can transform really evil people though as it happened in the Bible.

Who do you need to show love to? Sometimes it is necessary to overcome evil and bad behavior with good. That's in the Bible too.

 PRAYER: Lord I want to show your love to all those around me even when it is hard. Help me to remember to pray for the unloving and those around our world who are just plain evil. Help me love through you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for a wonderful praise and worship song:
 http://youtu.be/AibBR6j2g54

Dig Deep

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Forgiveness is a hard thing to do. Sometimes it is necessary to forgive people even when they are unaware they have hurt you or are at fault. You can dwell on issues and things that have been done to you or you can choose to move on and open your heart and allow God to transform you. It is hard to not forgive and to walk with the Lord at the same time. 

In order to truly forgive you have to purpose in your heart that you will not allow past problems to fester and if a person does not even know they are wrong forgive them in your heart anyway. Ask God to help you mend relationships and not harbor bad feelings.  You have to move on beyond hurts and pains and let Jesus have them.

Today whatever it is that has been bothering you first pray and ask God to help you release this person to Him and let you move beyond resentment and ill will.

PRAYER: I have been hurt by people, sometimes people very close to me who do not even realize it. I need to get beyond the feelings of anger and hatred to showing love and forgiveness regardless.Teach me your ways Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Love People, Period!

He answered, "Love the Lord your of with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27

'Love'  is a pretty simple command but how many of us really do it? Love those who hate you. Love those who are different. Love those who don't love Jesus. Love when you don't feel like it. Love indeed, does come from a pure heart. Love is from God.

When we don't show love to those around us we are giving our enemy Satan, more fuel for his tiny little fire. He loves it when there are arguments, contentions, and disagreements. It is easy to fight and bicker but hard to forget self, be humble and show true love to all those you come in contact with.

If you are tempted to argue with someone stop for a moment, say a silent prayer, and show love when you don't feel like or. Love wins in the end.

PRAYER: I know your command is to love one another. I choose to do this even when it is hard. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Unconditional Love...Just Live It!

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7

It is so easy to love people when they are nice to us, but when we are mistreated by someone, sometimes even a family member, it is difficult to act Christlike. But guess what? We are supposed to do just that.  Sometimes when I am confronted with a situation that requires unconditional love I think to myself 'be kind Becky and overcome evil with good.' Then there is the standard 'what would Jesus do' response which is often helpful as well. 

Make up your mind that you are going to love like Jesus' loves. If you catch yourself thinking mean or revengeful thoughts pause and pray and ask for God's strength to show His love to those you are dealing with.  This could be co workers, your children, your spouse, a friend, or a total stranger.  

God's way is always the way of love. 

PRAYER: When I feel upset or angry Lord I know you understand but I know you want me to be loving and be a good example and not fuel the fires of meanness. Give me strength. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Shhhh!

Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:20

I love the 4th of July. Freedom is special and I love to celebrate with friends, family, and fireworks. This year was very special enjoying the time out of town in a nearby city with my sister and brother in law. We had the perfect viewing location on a bluff overlooking where the fireworks would be shot off from. This space was "marked" by us for over four hours. During this time we had fun visiting with one another. About ten minutes before the show a very rude lady squeezed in and stood in front of us and tried to encourage her young daughter to do likewise. Frankly I was fearing for another kind of "fireworks" as we exchanged words, kind but firm.

After this "battle" I said "Becky, you know better. You write about love, peace, forgiveness and look at you." Granted this woman was wrong in what she did and taught her child a very poor lesson, but also I did not need to say a thing. Human anger is natural but has to be controlled. It is a common emotion to be upset when someone pushes themselves in front of you when you have done the right thing by coming early to secure a spot. All in all, it turned out okay and I was not about to let this woman ruin my otherwise perfect day. I came away and did what I needed to do "breathe out" like I had written on earlier in the week.

If you occasionally get angry or upset it is good to get it nipped in the bud and not let it boil over. Meditate on verses on peace and love and let God transform your heart to be like His. And to remember that God wants you to love all people and pray for them.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for loving me warts and all. Every day are new challenges for striving to walk in your footsteps. Convict me when I get out of line. I choose peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Respect

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband? Ephesians 5:33

Both Ephesians chapter 5 and 1 Peter Chapter 3 have allot to say about marriage between a husband and a wife. Not meaning to leave single people out, these chapters are good for all of us to read and take to heart. The foundations are love and respect among other things. But love and respect are also needed in our world in general.

Respect is defined by Bing online dictionary as "esteem: a feeling or attitude of admiration and deference toward somebody or something."  Some husbands may not be kind verbally to their wives but with God's help those ladies can master respect. Always remember to love unconditionally. Respect will get you a long way. 

Your job today and everyday is to show love to others and be respectful regardless. Go change your world. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to show respect not only to my spouse but to those around me. I want your live to flow through me like a mighty ocean. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

They Deserve This!

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.1 Corinthians 13:5

The verse given above refers to love. Many times when we are hurt we feel  like getting back at  the one who hurt us. Perhaps you refuse to truly forgive and forget, holding  grudges against a friend or family member. This type of treatment is painful and it is mean. 

It hurts when you are shunned or treated poorly by someone.  Harboring hurts and un forgiveness can build up a wall of resentment. This is exactly the kind of stuff Satan loves, discord and anger among brothers and sisters in Christ and family members. God's recipe for a successful relationship  should include the ingredients of honor, peace, forgiveness, sacrifice, and forgetting wrongs.

Try something if you will. If you can not forget something someone did to you ask God to help you. There is nothing gained by trying to throw up a wrong in someone else's face. Let the Holy Spirit convict. Your job is to pray, love, and forgive.

PRAYER: Lord I want to be a representative of your type of love. Give me your strength to resist making lists of wrongs. Help me to remember to pray for those who may have hurt me, as your word tells me to. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Love Meter

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

How is your love meter registering? Loving all people can sometimes be tough. Sometimes it is even difficult to love those closest to you. Love is the greatest commandment. Loving people above things and above yourself. Being unselfish and kind. Being gentle when you would rather be rude. Showing love to the unloveable or even those people you maybe do not agree with. 

Review 1 Corinthians chapter 13 when you get a moment. It is called the 'love chapter' in the Bible and has valuable scripture that if followed can keep your life on track and your love meter full. Pray each day and ask God to give you love for all kinds of people. We even are supposed to love and pray for our enemies. Now that one is tough especially of someone has hurt or betrayed you. Human nature wants to lash out and God's nature wants us to love unconditionally. There is your assignment. Go into the world and show God's love.

PRAYER: Give me the ability Lord to love others through you. Open my eyes to hurting people and help me show kindness and respect in addition to love. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Love Wins

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12(NIV)

A few days ago I saw a bumper sticker that simply said "Love Wins". What a great topic to write about I thought! Much wisdom can come from both church signs and some bumper stickers. Love, in fact, does win in the end. Songs sing about "what the world needs now is love, sweet love" and indeed we would be much better off if everyone could truly love like Jesus loved.

Since the fall of man there has been hatred and evil. It is found everywhere. Believers in Christ are to help combat that in our world but some of us get sucked in to hating, backbiting, gossiping, judging, condemning, and a host of other unloving activities. Why? Because of a sin nature. But, if each day we rise up out of bed and say "Lord help me to show your love to all I meet today" then things might improve. In Romans 12:21(NIV) we are told 'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'  When someone hurts you and you feel like getting back at them instead try to love.

PRAYER: Love can lift a person out of despair. I know there are those who need some of your love Lord. Use me to show this love to others. In Jesus' name.Amen.

WRAPPING IT UP.....LOVE

Even though I may be coming to an end of the series about love for now, we should never put love away. Love should be ever present in our lives and willingly given to those around us.

1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us 'And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.' Love is mentioned over and over in the Bible. It is the key to successful relationships with almost everyone we encounter.

Let me ask you, do people around you respond better to love or to anger and resentment? Obviously the answer would be they would respond better to a display of love. Satan of course hates love and hates us showing it to people so he, in his scheming way, will try to get you to falter and be mean to people. When you start to do this realize this is not of God and ask God to help to you free from this spirt that is causing this.

PRAYER: Love is so very important. I may think I have it but then turn around and treat a friend or co worker poorly. Forgive me Lord. I choose to walk in love and do it on purpose. Show me the things in my life that disappoint you and help me stay on the path of love. In Jesus' name. Amen.

DON'T LOSE THAT LOVING FEELING

Valentine’s Day is here but why is it necessary to have a secular holiday in order to show love? Love is something that should be ever present especially if you claim to be a believer. 

This holiday puts expectations on some and pressure on others. Some choose to not celebrate and do their own thing later after all why do you need February 14 to say you love someone? Keep being loving the other 364 days as well. Re read 1 Corinthians 13 especially the verse 7 which says '7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.' Stop for a moment and think what that verse is saying.

Can you truly "turn the other cheek" and move on beyond conflict? Can you show unconditional love even when you may not feel like it?A good section of scripture to read in the Bible on married love would be Ephesians Chapter 5. When you have time later today why not get a cup of coffee or tea and sit down and read what that says,particularly verses 25-33 of Chapter 5. 

It does not have to be Valentines Day to express love. Many often say this day is just a day conjured up to sell flowers or candy. Hey guys reading this, flowers are a great idea anytime. There is not a woman alive that would not like them. So today on this "day of love" why not find a person in your path and shine the love of Jesus' on them?

PRAYER: Your love is perfect. Your love is unconditional. Your love knows no ends. That is the kind of love I want.Help me not lose that "loving feeling". In Jesus' name. Amen. 

LOVE DOES NOT JUDGE

Recently I saw the new Hollywood movie, Gimme Shelter, which has a decidedly pro life and Christian message which I found refreshing. In the movie a down and out pregnant unmarried teen was played by actress Vanessa Hudgens.

This movie made you want to stand up and cheer at the end because of the forgiveness displayed. The way this character looked with tattoos and body piercing she would have been wrongly judged and cast off by many. The compassion of a caring lady turned her life around.

There are "street people" everywhere. We do not know "their story" so it is not up to us to judge. Hebrews 13:2(NIV) says 'Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.' The beggar, the prostitute, the thief, the murderer, the alcoholic, the homeless, the dregs of society all are loved by God. We need to find a way to be kind to all people and show kindness. Not everyone can take a homeless pregnant teen in an change her life but all of us can do something.

PRAYER: Make me your humble servant Lord. I may not go to a faraway mission filed to meet needs but direct my path to people who are hurting here who need your love. Use me to help demonstrate it. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

LOVE, LAUGH, LIVE!!

The three L's in my title are very important. You see them turned around the other way in stores selling merchandise proclaiming this. I would like to depart from this order and declare that Love should always come first. As I write this I am listening to a lady laughing with her friend. It delights my soul.

To love is to be kind, forgiving, generous, gracious, and peaceful among other things. Love should be your ultimate goal. Not in the sense of necessarily romantic love, but instead, being a "loving" person. In the past few devotions love has been the theme. Take a moment and read the thirteen verses of 1 Corinthians 13 again. If each person practiced those characteristics we would have a much more loving world. Once you work on love it is easier to laugh and to live! Love will help you live!

This year why not make love your aim? Proverbs 10:12(NIV) is a good guide for loving others. 'Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.'

PRAYER: I choose to practice love Lord. The enemy will attempt to get me to stir up strife by my actions and words but with your help Lord I will conquer Satan's attempts to get me to be ugly to people. In Jesus' name. Amen.See More