Loving people is only a vague concept, unless we do these five things:
1) People are insecure; give them confidence. Beneath their façade lie memories of a painful past and anxiety over what's coming their way next. Tell them God says, '.I will never leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). When nothing else works, God's Word does. 2) People need to feel special; compliment them. Do it when they least expect it, and it's clear you seek nothing in return. Mary Kay Ash, founder of a major cosmetics company in the USA, said, 'Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying, "Make me feel important!"' Notice how often God's Word tells us how much He loves us, how special we are, and His plans for us. 3) People are looking for a better tomorrow; give them hope. Let them know that when you put God in the centre of your life, your future can be better than your past. '.as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper' (2 Chr. 26:5 NKJV). 4) People need to be understood; listen to them. The trouble is this takes more time than we're willing to give. We're in too much of a hurry to hand out advice and move on, and it doesn't work. Before people can be 'fixed,' they must feel understood. 5) People need role models; be one. Paul told the Corinthians, 'Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ' (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV). Too often we're unaware of the example we set and the impression we're making. Like it or not, what you do, and don't do, influences others. When you leave this world, what you leave behind is your influence. Soul Food Reading: 2 Chr. 22-24; John 13:31-38; Ps 118:1-9; Pr 27: 23-27 PSALM 91:2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” When a great storm arose as Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, He did not say to His disciples, “The storm is here to teach us courage.” Instead, He took authority over the storm and said, “Peace, be still!” And there was a perfect calm. (Mark 4:39)
When He met the widow of Nain whose only son had died, and on another occasion, the two sisters whose brother Lazarus had died, He didn’t tell them, “God wanted to take him home.” No, He spoke to the dead son: “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14) And standing outside Lazarus’ tomb, He said, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43) And both men came back to life. What have you been saying about your situation? When you feel the pain in your body, don’t say of the Lord, “God wants me sick to teach me to trust Him more.” Instead, say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) While trying to make ends meet, don’t say of the Lord, “The Lord keeps me poor to keep me humble.” Instead, say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) And if you have an intimidating boss at work, don’t say, “The Lord is my patience, I will endure.” Instead, say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) We are living in the last days when there are terrorist attacks and deadly viruses lurking around, and the world is afraid. But we will not speak negative words and be fearful like the people of the world. Instead, we will speak God’s Word and reign over these things. Like the psalmist, we will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” So find out what God’s Word says about your situation, believe it and declare it. And because God’s Word cannot return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), you will see what you believe and confess come to pass! God loves His children. He knows that we cannot fully experience and enjoy His love unless we are obedient to Him. Obeying God is not meant to be a sterile, cold requirement; rather, it is a willing, glad-hearted response to One who loves us extravagantly and has our best interests at heart. God does not stand by at a distance, demanding our obedience. Rather, He blesses us by allowing us to be a part of accomplishing His purposes. He calls us to surrender, invites us to follow, empowers us to serve, and then blesses our obedience. (Taken from: Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom).
Father, thank You for revealing Your love to us. Thank You for enabling us to follow You wholeheartedly, because You have first loved us. Your love never fails! I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. John 14:16-17
Do-it-yourself Christianity is not much encouragement to the done-in and worn-out. Self-sanctification holds little hope for the addict… At some point we need more than good advice; we need help. Somewhere on this journey home we realize that a fifty-fifty proposition is too little. We need more… We need help. Help from the inside out… Not near us. Not above us. Not around us. But in us. In the part of us we don't even know. In the heart no one else has seen. In the hidden recesses of our being dwells, not an angel, not a philosophy, not a genie, but God. When God Whispers Your Name (Max Lucado) "...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Most everyone is interested in discovering their purpose for living--the reason for being born, the reason for existing. God has put that desire within you, for as your Creator, He has a purpose and plan for your life. Your role is to discover it and use the gifts, talents, and opportunities God has given you to make the most of your life. God's ultimate purpose is that everyone would have a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. And everyone can--through faith. Then there is more good news. God's Word says, "I am confident...that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus' coming." What a promise! Once we put our life and trust in God, He promises He'll begin to reveal our life purpose to us. He will also provide the power needed to see that we get it done. Ezekiel 34:24
'I the Lord will be their God. I the Lord have spoken.' - The Lord will be your God. - As your shepherd He will take care of you. - This is something you can be sure of. - He has prepared showers of blessings for you. PRAYER: Lord, You are my God. There is no one else. I trust in You and I know that You will take care and provide for me. Amen. Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while... I need a friend who'll listen To my anxiety and trial... You see, I can't quite make it Through a day just on my own... I need your love to guide me, So I'll never feel alone. I want to ask you please to keep, My family safe and sound. Come and fill their lives with confidence For whatever fate they're bound. Give me faith, dear God, to face Each hour throughout the day, And not to worry over things I can't change in any way. I thank you God, for being home. And listening to my call, For giving me such good advice When I stumble and fall. Your number, God, is the only one That answers every time. I never get a busy signal, Never had to pay a dime. So thank you, God, for listening To my troubles and my sorrow. Good night, God, I love You, too. And I'll call again tomorrow! God has planted eternity in the hearts of men. Ecclesiastics 3:10
It doesn't take a wise person to know that people long for more than earth. When we see pain, we yearn. When we see hunger, we question why. Senseless deaths. Endless tears, needless loss… We have our moments. The newborn on our breast, the bride on our arm, the sunshine on our back. But even those moments are simply slivers of light breaking through heaven's window. God flirts with us. He tantalizes us. He romances us. Those moments are appetizers for the dish that is to come. "No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). What a breathtaking verse! Do you see what it says? Heaven is beyond our imagination. … At our most creative moment, at our deepest thought, at our highest level, we still cannot fathom eternity. When God Whispers Your Name (Max Lucado) One of the greatest problems many people have today is that they do not think well of themselves. The Lord however commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves Mat 19:19. He must therefore think that it isimportant to like and love ourselves. Wee are unique and special to God. Believe it and Claim it In Jesus Name.
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you,' Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'" Matthew 5:43-44
The word enemy has been defined as anyone who is not for us. In light of that definition, we can all think of folks we work with, cross paths with, and sometimes even live with, who are not for us. Yet, Jesus Christ said, "Love your enemies." To love our friends is not unique, but to love our enemies is. At the end of the Civil War, many Northerners were demanding that the South be punished for the devastation the war had caused the United States. Feeling he was too soft on the South, a group visited President Lincoln at the White House. One man became so intense that he pounded on Mr. Lincoln's desk and said, "Mr. President, I believe in destroying my enemies." President Lincoln reflected a moment, then slowly stood and said, "Do we not destroy our enemies when we make them our friends?" That is the spirit of Christianity that literally changes the world. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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