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. 

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. 

Hated, Beaten, Rejected

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

When watching The Passion of the Christ  and the scene where Jesus was being whipped, it struck me how awful hating is. When you hate you may not be  whipping your victim, but nevertheless the love of Christ is not in you. 

Jesus died a horrible death on the cross for you and me, all  sinners.  If you are a Christian you shouldn't be backbiting, being ugly, harboring jealously or resentment, but should be loving your fellow man, even those hard to get along with or hard to understand. The more we love the more we are transformed into the likeness of Christ.

When Jesus was tortured he said not one ugly word. How many reading this feel like telling  off a fast food worker when they can't hurry up? No one is beating us up, but our thoughts and words may not be like that of a Christian. 

Jesus was in severe pain but he only said "forgive" not call me a lawyer so I can sue! Let the love of Christ dwell in you. 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for dying for our sins. I look forward to your kingdom some day when I leave this Earth. In the meantime help me show your 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.

NO FAIL

Many things in life can disappoint us. Things break. Relationships end. Plants die. Electricity goes out. Phones malfunction. One thing in life is a sure thing and that is love. "Then why didn't my marriage work" you might ask or "why does a friend mistreat me"? I really do not have a good answer only God knows. 

Back to 1 Corinthians 13 for some more wisdom. This time look at verse 8. 'Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.' Love is permanent or is supposed to be. The kind of love God has for us is like this. No matter how despicable we may become or how ugly we treat Him or others He still loves us. His love remains. 

Can you say the same? Is your love intact no matter what? Do you want it to be? God can renew and restore broken hearts and He  can transform hate into love. You have to want Him to. Are you ready to surrender to Him and ask for that transformation today? 

PRAYER:You love us so very much Lord. Just like the song "Jesus loves me" we sang as a child, you truly love us in a mighty and perfect way. I want to show  your love to those in my path daily. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

THE LOVE COMMANDMENTS

Most everyone is familiar with the Ten Commandments found in Exodus chapter 20 but are you aware there  are two more? The past few days have been focused on love leading up to the month of love, February. 

 Matthew 22:33-40(NIV)  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.” Herein lies the question? Can you love like that really? We're supposed to if we name Jesus as Lord of our life. Sometimes you may need to ask Him to help you love someone. 

If only we could master love. It is not the romantic notion of movies and fairy tales but is something much deeper and greater. It is loving when you do not feel like you can. It is thinking of others as better than yourself. It is the act of being a true disciple of Christ. Are you capable of this kind of love? Jesus can help you. Call on Him today? 

PRAYER: There is a popular older song that says "All you need is love" well I need you Lord to be able to display the character of you through love I show to others. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID!!

Do you find yourself rehashing problems or mistakes someone has made? Perhaps you refuse to truly forgive and forget and hold grudges against a friend or family member. This type of treatment does not fall within God's definition of love. It is painful and it is mean.

It has happened to me a couple of times and it hurts when you are shunned or treated poorly by someone. Also spouses need to be careful to truly forgive and forget mistakes or hurts. Harboring them can build up a wall of resentment and sure does not stir up feelings of love. This is exactly the kind of stuff Satan loves. He loves discord and anger among brothers and sisters in Christ and even better he loves splitting up marriages.

God's word once again 1 Corinthians 13 verse five touches on this area. When referring to love it says 'It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.' A recipe for a successful relationship would or 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.

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 hurt me as your word tells me to. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TRY LOVE

 As I was driving one day I saw a unique vanity tag that simply said "Try Love". That is good advice for all of us. Looking for a good New Years resolution? Maybe "trying love" would be a great one.

Perhaps you need to love a friend better, a family member, a stranger, a boss or a co worker. Love is putting others first and ignoring their faults. It is unconditional. It is patient. It does not think of itself. It is able to forgive regardless. This entire description of God's kind of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Read it and meditate on what it says.

A prayer I pray for myself often and even my children is that they would love with the love of Jesus'. 1 John 4:20(NIV) says 'Whoever claims to loves God yet hates a brother or a sister is a liar. For whoever does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen can not love God whom he has not seen.'

Do you need to "try love" in 2014 and beyond?

PRAYER: Lord I do love you and I strive with your help to show your love to others around me whether or not I know the or not. That is what you want your followers to do. Help me not stray from this path. In Jesus' name. Amen.

MAINTAINING

 

Life requires maintenance. Our cars need regular care to run properly.Our bodies need proper food, rest, and exercise to stay healthy. Our spiritual life needs daily work to stay strong in The Lord. Marriages need to maintain that "in love" feeling by remembering what made you fall in love. It may be necessary to mend a garment of clothing before it falls apart. You get the idea.

In relationships time together is critical. Value each other, respect each other, forgive if necessary, put the other truly first, show honor, display kindness, and leave God in the equation. If you do these things your relationship should grow and you should become closer not further apart.

Colossians 3:14(ESV) says 'And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.' Love, selfless love, truly does want the best for the one they love. Being this kind of person will surely make for a relationship that is maintained by God above.

PRAYER: It is my desire to show your love to friends, family, the one I love and to those I daily make contact with. I choose to maintain myself by keeping you in the center. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Note: Finish reading all of Colossians chapter 3.

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

 Do you have love for others in your heart? Loving others is sacrificing sometimes what you want to do to out the other person first. It could be a spouse, friend, family member, or a complete stranger. You show love through your words and your actions.

Love is speaking a kind word to someone be it a friend or stranger. Love is being a friend to someone who is hurting. Love is lending a helping hand to those in need. Love is putting another before yourself. Love is not getting even. Love is sharing. Love is finding a way to cheer up someone and make their day better. Love is overlooking faults. Love is being kind.

When people think of you do you think they think of you as someone who would represent love? What can you do today to show God's love to someone? It can be as simple as a smile. Yes our mouth is also not just to communicate with, eat, sing, and kiss but it works to smile and make someone happy too.

1 John 4:7(NIV) says 'Dear friends let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.' Do you know God? I do not mean do you go to church each week or you are a member of a certain church but do you truly feel you have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life? Once you do it is easier to truly love people and even those who may rub you the wrong way. This does not mean you will not slip up but each day try to love like God would love.

PRAYER: I want to love like you love Father. I want to speak kindness to those around me. I want to be able to forgive and forget. I know this is all a part of having love in my heart. Help me Lord as I seek to love more and judge less. In Jesus' name. Amen.

WHO HATES WHO ANYWAY?

The word "hate" is being thrown around lots today in political circles and sometimes "religious" circles. If you speak out against something you do not believe in such as homosexuals getting married then you are classified by some as one who hates. If you speak out against the new healthcare law because of how it was rammed down our throats then some say you are hateful and do not care that all people should get medical care. If you think a business owner has the right to hire who he or she wants and yet a transgender or cross dressing individual applies for a job and are not hired them obviously you must hate them.

First of all HATE is a very strong word. People who hold a certain opinion and express it are not people who hate unless they say the word hate. Hate means hate. Webster's describes it as "intense hostility". A person of faith who holds the Bible to be the infallible word of God and simply expresses an opinion is not a hater. We disagree, that is all.

Hatred is often followed by acts of anger and rage. We as believers are on the defensive today all over the world. Some can openly express their religious beliefs and in the United States the First Amendment has guaranteed it. Right now that is not the case when lawmakers refuse to abide by it.

Christians need to stand up and be heard in the public square. There is a saying that "evil triumphs when good men do nothing."(Sir Edmund Burke) Deceptive spirits are causing people to believe lies. Scripture is being changed to suit the needs of the time. The Bible is not to be changed. Hebrews 13:8(NIV) says 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever."

1 Peter 5:8(ASV) says 'Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' Whose voice are you listening to?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me be protected from deceptive spirits that try to get me to believe the lies of the enemy. Lord Jesus help me be diligent to show myself approved as a workmen that does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth as it says in 2 Timothy 2:15(NIV). Lord help me to show your true love to all I meet. In Jesus' name. Amen.

I LOVE JESUS, HOW ABOUT YOU?

The Christian singer Carman has a song where the the lyrics say "I love Jesus yes I do, I love Jesus, how about you?" Do you love Jesus?

The word love is thrown around so flippantly at times. There is the love between man and wife which should be eternal, deep, truthful, permanent with Christ as the center. There is the love of friends where it is loyal, kind, and faithful. A person can say they love a certain food, sports team, college, vacation destination, or pet. We love our family, or should.

Love is kind, truthful, forgiving, honest, merciful, loyal, genuine, friendly, kind, and above all unconditional. Think of that word unconditional. It means "without conditions". God loves us unconditionally so we too need to love others in the same manner.

1 John 4:20 says 'whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or a sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love of God who they have not seen.'

When you love someone you want to please them above yourself. You give before you take. This is why the question is "do you really love Jesus" do you like to please Him by your thoughts, words, and actions? 1 John 1:6 says 'if. Claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.' So are you a liar or a lover? Start today to show the love of God to all tho you come into contact each and every day but give God your true love.

PRAYER: I love you Lord. I love your word The Bible. I love the promise of a heavenly kingdom. I thank you for helping me show love to all people even when they might not show it back. Love always wins out. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below to listen to the song I mentioned above by Carman.

http://youtu.be/RgXWIXgaMXA

KINDNESS BRINGS UNITY AND REPENTANCE

There is a verse in Romans 2:4 which says '...kindness leads to repentance.' That is oh so very true! Being kind to others whether you agree with them, their lifestyle choices, or a host of other things, not only brings unity and peace, but it leads to repentance by sinners. Guess what? All of us are sinners! In Romans 3:23(NIV) says 'we all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.' All means all.

Human nature tends to label and classify "bad sins" versus "not as bad sins". All sin is sin whether it is murder, lying,rape,fornication, gluttony, homosexuality, abortion, stealing, or cheating. No matter what, Jesus forgives and forgets. It says in Psalm 103:12(NIV) 'As far as the East is from the West, so far He has removed our transgressions from us.' It is "religious" people that are the finger pointers and think they are right. That is very prideful. All people need kindness and the love of others in an unconditional way if they ever expect to be drawn to a relationship with Christ. Eating too much at a church potluck could perhaps get you in the gluttony category.

Don't be finger pointing at others and treating them like they are not worth anything because everyone has a chance to come to Jesus. By harping on someone and trying to change them yourself is the wrong way to have positive change. The Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting and turning from sin.

First take care of your own sins before you condemn others. John 8:11(NLT) says to the woman about to be stoned by committing adultery "...Go and sin no more." Read all of John chapter 8 when you get a moment.

Kindness is the way to reach out to others that we don't like particularly or don't understand or those who have hurt or are hurting us. Some examples would be those with body piercing, tattoos, vulgar language, mentally ill, those people collecting money fraudulently at exit ramps, the drunk, the drug addict, prostitutes, those in the middle east who do not like Christians and want to "kill the infidel", those who push for homosexual marriage, those who want to kill babies in the womb, tyrants in public office, and I am sure you can add to this list.

So today your job is to put Jesus on the throne and leave Him there. Confess to Him any sins that keep you from fully having a life in Christ. Lift up those in prayer that are on the list above that you might be able to love others with Jesus' love.

PRAYER: It is so easy to judge others and when I do this I know you are not pleased with me. Teach me how to pray for others some of which may not even like me. Help me also to remember I am far from perfect. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click on link for an awesome song of praise and worship.

http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c

BE NICE REGARDLESS

 There is a Bible verse I love and try to live by with God's help and
that is James 1:20(NIV) and it says 'because human anger does not
produce the righteousness God desires.' Isn't that the truth? My next
favorite one is Proverbs 15:1(NIV) which says 'A gentle answer turns
away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.'

Satan is the great divider. He loves causing strife, bitterness,
confusion, misunderstandings, conceit, verbal fights, and physical
fights in all sorts of relationships. If true followers of Christ
really practiced what the Bible said there would be allot fewer
lawsuits, divorces, sibling fights, family divisions, problems at
work, hurt feelings, misunderstandings and marital spats.

If you know how to respond to harsh words or treatment then do it
regardless. Be the "bigger person" and show God's love to mean
spirited people. Try your best to pray for them.

Luke 6:28(NIV) says 'bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you.' That might seem like a "tall order" when you are
really hurt inside. Think about Jesus up on that cross. He did not
deserve the horrible death he died but yet he said "Father forgive
them for they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34). Another verse I
love and it is good to "sear" into your brain is Romans 12:21(NIV)
which says 'Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.'

You may be a very compliant, controlled, gentle person and in your
good nature never get hurt or upset but for the rest of us out there
it is my prayer you will keep looking up to Jesus!

PRAYER: Help me Lord to hold my tongue when I would rather get into a
debate over something that is unnecessary. Help me Lord I need your
strength to imitate you. In Jesus' name. Amen

LOVE OF GOD THROUGH OTHERS

 Last week I was in a coffee shop writing when I looked up and a beautiful child who had Down's Syndrome was in the chair next to me. I said hello and she was very friendly pointing to her mother buying her a drink at the counter. When her mom got ready to sit down the child leaned over and gave me a huge hug. I loved it! Then a few moments later when they got ready to leave she once again hugged me. What a great feeling! Many people may find it strange around certain people who do not seem "perfect" in world's eyes but I might ask who of us is perfect anyway?

The love this little girl showed was the kind of love Jesus shows us. Unconditional, arms wide open, smiling. How many of us could stand to learn a lesson from this little girl? Society seems to want to get rid of imperfect people. Who is to say what a person who appears defective can't contribute vitally to society. Everyone is valuable in God's eyes and we are to love like Jesus loves.

This child was such a blessing. It made my day being hugged like that! Are you able to give "hugs" say in the form of a smile as you pass strangers each day? So many people look so grouchy and unhappy and you would be surprised if you shared the love of Jesus through your smile what a difference it may make in their day.

Mark 12:30-31(NIV) reminds us to '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.” Love even those people you find it hard to love. You know who I mean. The person who said something cruel behind your back. Perhaps a co worker who lied about you to get ahead. Maybe even a friend who decided she or he did not like you anymore for whatever reason. God's love is unconditional and so should ours be.

Today why not try to ignore mean people in your life and pray for them. Also try sharing that smile and remembering to love others like Jesus would love.

PRAYER: Father forgive me when I have maybe not been nice to someone who hurt me. Forgive me for not being unconditional with your love inside of me. Today I purpose to start allowing your love to flow through me and mold me and change me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES

 

"I can't stand so and so". Has it ever shocked you to hear someone say this that maybe was in Bible study with you or a prayer group? Maybe it was you who uttered those words. Well sure we are not perfect but if we say we love Jesus we are not to be "willy nilly" going around hating people. I admit it is hard when someone has done something intentionally to hurt you.

Do you have enemies or people you just don't like? Did you know if you claim to love Jesus you are to not hate people even if they have done wrong or hurt you? You are to pray for them. This includes impossible bosses and co workers too by the way. 1 John 4:20(NIV) says ''If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.' Pretty straightforward wouldn't you say?

If you are having trouble loving evil people or those who hurt you, just try to pray for them instead. Keep praying and pray some more. Proverbs 24:17-18(NIV) is a great verse for those of us upset with many of the US elected officials who do not listen to the people and it says 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.' What to do then? Pray, God will take care of those hurting us on His own time table. Live your life in an attitude of prayer.
Keep shining the love of Jesus down on all those around you and make believe Jesus is right there beside you, because He is. 

PRAYER: Lord I choose this day to love like you love and to love when I would rather show hate. It glorifies you when I show love to my enemies. Help me today to shine your light for the world to see. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOVE LIKE YOU MEAN IT

Love is a great big word often thrown around casually without even truly knowing and understanding the true meaning of it. So many people love "conditionally" as is evident by the soaring divorce rates and court battles. Love is more than a feeling.

When you say you love someone, and this includes your friends and family, why not take a peek at 1 Corinthians 13. If you have your Bible handy look it up now. In verse 7 of that chapter it says 'love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things'. Now that is commitment and true love. Love does not think of itself first but puts others first.

Sometimes in life we run into people who you feel like you don't like or prefer to not be around or maybe it is someone you disagree with. Perhaps you judge this person for something they can do nothing about like the color of hair they were born with or a deformity. The point is, if you name the name of Jesus you should love like He loves. His love is "unconditional".

In Matthew 22:36-40(ESV) it says “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Knowing this why do so many people harbor hate and grudges? Not all people are humanly likable but we need to love like Jesus loved.This goes for your supposed "enemies" or those who have treated you with disrespect or hate. Try praying for them instead even though it is difficult and see if your heart does not feel better.

Go now and love like Jesus!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to show love to everyone. Sometimes it may be hard so please help me have a heart of compassion for others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a praise song by Dove Award winner singer/songwriter Aaron Shust, who by the way will be in concert this Sunday at 7 p.m. at Asbury Church, 138 Gillespie Rd in Madison, Alabama in the Grace Building. It is a free benefit concert. I plan to be there to lift up the name of Jesus through his music.

http://youtu.be/8iSVF2XM7yQ

THE MARRIAGE

 

One year ago today, my answers to 28 years of praying came to fruition when our younger son was joined in Holy matrimony to his best friend and soul mate. It was a wonderful Christian wedding and an exciting day for not only them but for family and friends who were in attendance to celebrate with them. Weddings are indeed a time of joy and celebration especially when families like each other and vows are taken seriously. It is an anticipated event joining a man and a woman as one in the eyes of God, even though society may try to redefine it. It is a commitment and a vow not to be entered into flippantly.

With weddings we think of love as well. What better way to celebrate love than when you go to a Christian wedding. At times this is a great time for those already married to think about what marriage really means. It is till death do you part with no escape clauses. I have readers who have been in failed marriages and it is not my intent to guilt you in any way. God can and does forgive and at times the divorce may not have been your fault.

Love indeed is a good thing. 1 Corinthians chapter 13, which I am copying from the NIV in it's entirety, is the definition of love. Read it out loud today whether you are married or single.

'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. 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. 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. 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. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in partand we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes,what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

Love like this verses says even to your friends. Love like God. God is love. Is there someone you need to show this type of love to today?
PRAYER: Lord I thank you for the gift of love. I know I am to love others with your love. I am not to hate or be ugly but to be an imitation of your love wherever I go. I will seek always to love like you love no matter if others love me back. In Jesus' name. Amen!
Click on link for a song of love.

http://youtu.be/3rPvrXoIVl0

ORANGE SUITS...PRAY DON'T CONDEMN

Most every state in America probably utilizes "good conduct" prisoners to pick up litter on the highway. When you drive by these males and females they usually are dressed in an orange jumpsuit and carry a large garbage sack. Is your first reaction to be scared? Perhaps you wrongly judge them? Maybe you are thinking they get what they deserve. Has anyone ever stopped to think maybe they need prayer?

These individuals could be incarcerated for a variety of reasons. We
know the break down of the family contributes to many crimes in
society today. But do you know a perfectly honorable person who may
never have done a bad thing in his or her life could end up there for
accidentally shooting someone or a vehicular homicide that was never
planned ? Maybe a mental health issue drove them to commit a crime.
Maybe a car wreck and someone sues. Not all are your typical hardened
criminals ending up at the mercy of the courts but those from
respectable families as well.

Next time you are going about your day and pass a group of these
individuals why not pray for them. Pray for the court system to be
fair. Pray for them to get necessary rehab or treatment. Pray for
healing in their family situation. Pray for them to come to know Jesus
in their heart. Pray for their life to be turned around. Pray also for
families they may have committed a crime against to be able to
forgive.

1 Corinthians 6:11(NIV) says 'And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.'

PRAYER: Father help me to not judge and condemn others but to truly have compassion for those who are locked up and pray their lives may be turned around. I know any person can find themselves in this situation so help me when I am driving down the road and see these prisoners to really say a prayer for them to come to know you as their savior. Keep me Lord on the right path of life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a song to start your day.

http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c


Book reading suggestion: When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent