What does it mean to “Love!” ? Part 2

 

True love is kind of like quality; you know it when you see it. “I love the Lord because he heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to my prayers.” Psalms 116 This is one of my favorite passages of scriptures. GOD IS REAL! We are saved by God’s grace. This is HIS GIFT to us.

We are living in some interesting times. The perilous days are definitely upon us. This generation has some extreme interesting influences and obstacles to wade through. There is a continual moral decline and much to undermine the validity of marriage God’s Way as well as family values. KNOW GOD’S WORD! There is much going on to encourage the masses to embrace “sexual inclusivity.” We are to embrace others but not to cosign any sin. This is not about hate but more about developing healthier spiritual boundaries.

 

GOD’S WORD IS TRUE!

LORD HELP US! GOD is clear in HIS WORD about marriage & sexual relationships. There is so much spiritual warfare to thwart you from  traveling on the NARROW PATH, rather than onto the broad road that leads to destruction. Just about anything goes in the world and for some in God’s Church as well. Much carnality invited into worship. ” THE WHEAT and the tares are growing together.” We are to be “GOD’S CHURCH” EVERYDAY & EVERWHERE!

 

PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT!

TRULY GOD IS MORE THAN ABLE TO KEEP US!

It is important to keep in mind that our children do not belong to us. They belong to GOD. HE has entrusted us to properly care for and nurture them.  It is important to give them wise godly counsel as they are growing up. It is important to instill within them good morals and values. It is important to walk the walk you talk about. This is what builds healthy family bonds.

 

No matter how well you have raised your children there are still  many random influences. However, they will be able to hold onto their morals and values when they are grounded and rooted in the LORD! You should want them to be autonomous yet dependent upon the Lord for He is everywhere. Love does not desire to suffocate. Once they become adults they have a right to make their own decisions.

 

We as believers are all accountable to GOD for our actions. This is true whether you believe in Him or not. It is important to daily spend time with the Lord in His Word.

 

 

Realize that once your children become adults you may not always agree. When you have spent a lot of time with your children you should know their temperaments. You can discern when something is awry. Each person is so very different. Allow them the freedom and space to make their own decisions. As well as the freedom to experience the consequences for their decisions. Respect them as adults. But be firm and readily give good wise godly counsel. However, always remain prayerful for there is much divisive spiritual warfare. Giving them good balanced moral boundaries is one of the best things you can do. They will have to encounter people who are not believers and do not share the same morals.

 

Embracing self control and patience is very wise.  Regularly spending time in the  Word of God and embracing His principles will help you immensely.  It is important to know that we will have to answer to the Lord for our actions and decisions…

 

GOD’S LOVE IS ETERNAL!

I am thankful that the LORD has SAVED my household.  We never called our children  out of their names nor cussed at them nor anyone else for that matter. They grew up knowing that God was the center of  our lives.  We are thankful for the awareness of God’s omnipresence within our lives…  We are also thankful by the help of the Lord  we raised our children in a home of love and peace.  I realize that by God’s grace  through eternity we  each will live with the Lord at the appointed time.   Life is about continually growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. This also motivates me to stand for whatever is right.

 

Life is a precious GIFT from the Lord!

 

The purpose for life and living is to worship  & praise  GOD! He is the Creator and Maker of Heaven and earth.  He is the Giver  and Sustainer of life.  God wants to be a part of every area of our lives. He does not force His way into our lives. He gives us all the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives. As you grow closer to the Lord you become more aware of what He expects.  God promises to never leave nor forsake us.   

 

This world was spoken into existence by His living WORD; CHRIST JESUS! Within in Word of God is a wealth of spiritual wisdom.  God keeps His promises! You can rest assured that ultimately the Lord has everything under His control. Knowing that forever we will live  together with the Lord through eternity gives me an unexplainable peace and security in the midst of a world full of turmoil. For this I am also eternally grateful!

 

We must better learn to  exercise patience in our relationships with our family, friends, love ones, neighbors, co workers and yes strangers. When you allow someone to  push your buttons to make you react; you are being controlled by remote. Learn to activate self control. Sometimes you might have to put distance between you and them. It is always good for all of us to seek ways to improve ourselves. Don’t compromise who you are and what you know to be right to be accepted by anyone. Know that the acceptance of GOD is more than enough!

 

Live before an audience of ONE!

 

There is no condemnation when we are walking in the Spirit! But whenever we allow the flesh to direct us we need to be mindful that sin wants to rule. It leaves more room for error to persist. This does not have to be. Therefore we should cry “Abba Father” for direction to remain on the Narrow Path. Readily “REPENT!” LORD YOU ARE AWESOME & “AWEWONDERFUL!”

 

Remember GOD IS OMNISICENT; HE IS ALL KNOWING! You do not have to go through the same things that others go through to understand them. JESUS CHRIST is MORE THAN ABLE in every situation. HE IS LORD! HE spoke mankind and this world into existence. When you are sincere, GOD will open up your understanding for understanding comes from HIM! However you must rely and trust upon Him to help you as you counsel with others. The Spirit of GOD is always willing to HELP us for GOD has not left us alone to fend for ourselves. Reject the things that are NOT of HIM! Thank You Lord for Your Holy Spirit Your Comforter! Your Holy Spirit can lead us to all TRUTH! This is why we all will forever need Christ Jesus!

 

Few people really know what it means to be loved. Keep in mind GOD’S definition of LOVE! People live in estranged relationships for years. This does not have to be. Households are literally filled with strangers. Sickness, anger, resentment and unresolved bitterness becomes the cohesive components to bind them together. Often they will try to impose this upon you. They do not necessarily want to resolve conflict but project their unhappiness upon you. They often seek ungodly counsel to reinforce their behavior rather than to confront the situation in truth.

 

Take the trash out often. Don’t spend a lot of time in the garbage of life.

Don’t allow anyone to mentally or physically abuse you. Put some distance between you and them until you are able to be safe in their presence. Don’t provoke someone to wrath as well. This puts you in harms way. Domesticate violence is serious. Don’t hurl insult upon insult until you demean a person to the point that they retaliate with unbridled anger.

 

Often when someone has been repeatedly abused they unconsciously fight to create a hostile living environment that they have grown accustomed to. This in itself has a power of its own. It can even pull someone into it who has not lived in hostility off their center. They respond as a caged animal and begin to resort to abusive behavior to survive in a foreign environment. God can truly help you to overcome anything but you must learn to submit to HIM. He can deliver you and help you respond differently. REPENT instead of repeat! The cycle of abuse needs to be broken not passed down to another generation.

 

This is why it is important to know God’s True Love. God is not the Author of confusion. Invite HIM into every area of your life and move towards making the necessary changes. Strive to become more aware of His Omnipresence. Make an altar of your heart wherever you are. Know that your Body is the Temple of the Living GOD! If you are a Christian your home is the first place that you should welcome the Spirit of the Lord. This does not mean that you live in a rigid legalistic environment. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty.” Daily invite His presence around you. Then when you attend worship you already have Him with you… Christianity is supposed to be a daily lifestyle.

 

God has a better way for you to live. But it is our individual choice. It’s never to late to implement His principles in your daily lifestyle. But it does or will require change. God can and will guide you. Get off the broad road. This is the worldly road. The broad road leads to destruction. The Narrow Path leads to God and His Peace. But there are only a few that find it. It is the road less traveled. Here is where HE wants to manifest and multiply the Fruit of His Spirit within your daily life. “ALL things are POSSIBLE with GOD!” But you must first submit to; “HIS WILL & HIS WAY!”

 

God always allows us the freedom to choose. It is the unselfish concern of God for man that explains His Love in a nutshell. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world on the cross. To redeem us from the power of sin. In order to free us from sin’s captivity. He laid down His life for us ALL! There is no greater love than this? Does grace give us the right to willfully sin? God forbid! Out of spiritual ignorance and some unconsciously support the wrong things in people. Rather than abet they enable.

 

All too often on many occasions some literally “love people to death.” When they are six feet under they cry, rant, rave and shout. But why wait until it’s too late? This does not have to be. Why do we allow people we say we care about to slowly die little by little right before our faces? Why not do something while the blood is still running warm in their veins? It’s because we don’t want to hurt their feelings. Right! We don’t want to hurt their feelings but what about hurting their life? We prefer to take away their motivation to change by comforting them in sin. This does not have to be! Motive is always key in whatever we do. Some people have been loved so wrong for so long they can’t recognize true love. There is only one way to Heaven. “Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life!”

 

We cannot change anybody. But God can. But we can stop supporting what we know is wrong. We should always seek to improve ourselves for there is always room for improvement in all of us. We should encourage what God has to say about Life & Living. Some things will just not be understood on this side of heaven. Believe it or not God does not ever support wrong. I don’t care if you have two or two thousand or two million people to support you if it’s wrong it’s wrong. No one is above reproach.

 

THANK YOU LORD FOR SETTING ME FREE!

Take some time and read Jeremiah. Listen to his vehement protest to what is happening to the environment. Look at what obedience and love he had for God and His principles. For over 40 years he pleaded with Israel. They ignored a great opportunity for spiritual, moral and ethical maturity. They still chose to justify their sins. Did you know that they did not repent in Jeremiah’s time? I wonder if they thought Jeremiah was too negative and needed a personality adjustment? Just imagine the persecution, rejection and ridicule he received for taking a stance against sin. Jeremiah didn’t just talk the talk. He walked it! He suffered greatly yet; he was steadfast and unmovable and blessed by God.

It is time for the CHURCH of GOD to seriously embrace the TRUTH of GOD’S WORD each day. Instead of embracing the current trends of the world we are supposed to set the standard and be led by the Lord. The ways of the world have nested themselves in the midst of GOD’S CHURCH. No doubt; “THE WHEAT and the tares are growing together.” No need to fear but PRAY and ask for DISCERNMENT. We who are HIS CHURCH are supposed to live each day as though our LORD is going to return.

God is about freedom! Spiritual Freedom comes with discipline. Sin is a slave master. It brings bondage. Did you know that it is easier for many to believe a lie rather than believe the truth? God is a Spirit of Truth. “They that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth!” Don’t just follow the crowd. Stay focused and PRAY WITHOUT CEASING all throughout your day and especially during worship!

God will bless and keep you in any and all circumstances. Remember GOD is Love! God is Eternal. “Stand fast in the liberty that Christ has set you free and be not entangled with a yoke of bondage!” Sin is bondage. The Love, Peace, Freedom, and Security that God provides is priceless! God has a much better way. Get off the broad road. Discover that Narrow Path that only a few find. Commit to making a conscious effort to sin less and love with Godly Love.

Now is the time to STAND upon the WORD of GOD! THANK GOD for CHRIST JESUS!& BLESS HIS HOLY NAME!