Definition of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1, If i speak in the tongues of man and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 


          "Love"
The most heard of word, but the most underused word in existence. Heard all the time at the end of phone conversations, in advertisements, everywhere! The word is used very loosely and often times is not meant. On the other hand, most children have never even heard their parents say "I love you" to them. People just want to be loved, but there is so much fake love around, it is hard to find such. Also, it is hard to give real love when we are around a generation of "love" all the time. Love today means someone saying "I love you dear" and then proceeding to walk off with someone else and gossip about the person they just said I love you to. Love today means saying to someone's face, "I just love you!" And then later in the day not forgiving the person for something that they said later on in the day that hurt them. Then they text everyone and tell them of the injustice. I don't know about you, but this kind of love seems shallow and fleeting. Is this just me?

The bible is very clear about how we are to love each other. Let's look into it. 1 Corinthians 13-4-7 says that Love is:

*Patient
*Kind
*Does not envy
*Does not boast
*Is not proud
*Is not rude
*Is not self seeking
*Is not easily angered
*It keeps no record of wrongs
*Loved does not delight in Evil
*Rejoices with the truth
*Protects
*Trusts
*Hopes
*Perseveres
*NEVER Fails

Wow, that is a tall order to live up to. I don't know of anyone who can live up to all of those all of the time on their own. But you know when we call on the name of the Lord, he will come to our rescue. He delights in the child that asks for his goodness. He rejoices when we hunger to have his love. He longs to give us his love. It doesn't matter if you have a hard time loving people! It doesn't matter if you can't forgive someone. You can still have love. You will learn to forgive that person. It may take some time, but the Lord will help you if you are truly serious about following him in love.

But you can't just pray that the Lord will give you love and not practice. You have to practice this. It's tough, difficult and sometimes torturous to let things slide off your back, but you will be SO happy that you did it in the long run. When you practice, try not to gossip. Decide in your heart in the mornings that you will not gossip today. Purpose to keep your talk praising to God and not negative about people. Practice, practice, practice! You may fail, because you are a human, but don't just say, "I'm human, and we gossip sometimes." Do not do that. Say, "Forgive me Lord for displeasing you. I repent of what I have done." And go and apologize to the person that you gossiped to whether they started it or not. This will show them, that you are trying not to gossip and maybe it will stop them from doing so as well.

Forgive faults quickly! Let things slide. Pray! Prayer to the Lord will get rid of offense quickly. Spend time in the word when you are hurt, or write down bible verses about offense and read them when you are hurt with someone. Say in your heart, "I forgive you" to the person. They most likely don't know that they hurt you and you are not doing any good keeping it in your heart. It will only fester and turn you into a not so very nice person. Just realize that you don't know the circumstances in their life at that moment in time, and they could be saying rude things to cover the hurt inside of them. Be there for them, and pray for them.

"Love always perseveres.... Love never ends." These two are like closers. All of those things in the list we should do with perseverance that never ends. Follow that person that pushes you away and love them. Pray for them all the time. Pray for unending love for that person. Fast for them. Do things in a right heart. Not just because I said so. Do it because you know that this is what the Lord delights in, and you want to be just like him. Keep on loving.


~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8

Have Yourself a Selfless Christmas

Luke 1:35, The angel answered, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

Luke 1:38, I am the Lord's servant,"Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Obviously we all know that this season is not our own but it is for Jesus, our Savior who came to earth in the form of a man to save us from our sins. We have all been taught that in Sunday School and in our homes for years. But sometimes the story can become just a little bit like a routine to us. Putting up the manger scene. Reading the story of Jesus at church. But do we really take the time actually listen to the story and find the meaning of it?

An angel visits Mary one day and tells her that she is going to have a baby, even though she is a virgin. Mary at this time is engaged to a man named Joseph. Back in Mary's day, to be found pregnant, engaged or not, meant to be stoned to death for bringing dishonor to your family. But look at Mary's reply in Luke 1:38 again, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

Wait...... Did you hear that? Or maybe it's what you don't hear. Listen again. "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Did you hear it this time? It's the sound of no complaining to God. It's the sound of selflessness and humility. It's the sound of Mary totally giving her life to God's plan.

Honestly think about the things you complain about, just for a second. A hard test, a breakup, having to get up to get a remote? We have become an age of complainers! Complainers tell God how unjust he is to them. People who complain tell God that they could do life better. It's insulting, and it is totally selfish. Just the opposite of what Mary's reply was.

Let's continue on. Luke 2:7, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This is the second part of our story that we will look at.

Jesus, gave up his thrown in heaven, his perfect life, his angles who worshiped him, to come to be born in the most humble of humblest ways: in a barnyard. Again, complete Selflessness, and humility. This story is about selflessness. About thinking of others above yourself. About becoming lowly and serving others. It's about Jesus' selflessness to you and me! It's to show us the best example that we could possibly live by. So think about what you can do! It's only a couple more days until Christmas. Think of some ways that you can help make the people around you have the best Christmas they can possibly can. It doesn't sound fun, but when it's all said and done with, you will realize that you get the most out of this story by copying our Savior and loving others around us by serving them.

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope and pray that you all try at least one selfless thing this week. And remember to give thanks to Jesus this week all the time for his selfless attitude toward you and me.

~Whatsoever Things are True
Philippians 4:8

Persecution

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~On July 25, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom, officials rounded up 17 of the 20 Christian families in the village – a total of 80 men, women and children – and detained them in a local school compound, denying them food for three days in an attempt to force the adults to sign documents renouncing their faith.

~Unconfirmed reports indicated that a incident took place in Lower Juba province of Somalia in July, when Christians found with Bibles were publicly executed.

~On June 8 Compass learned that eight Christians held at the Adi-Quala prison were taken to the medical emergency facilities as a result of torture by military personnel at the camp.

~Imprisoned and tortured for her faith since December 2007, a 37-year-old Christian woman died of malaria in Eritrea’s Wi’a Military Training Center in July after authorities refused to provide treatment for her. Weakened by ongoing torture, Azib Simon contracted malaria only a week before she died. She had attended one of the independent evangelical churches that have been targeted by the country’s Marxist-leaning authoritarian regime. Simon’s death made a total of five Christians confirmed to have died in Eritrean prisons after being tortured for refusing to recant their faith, with at least one other Christian dying of illness in prison later in the year...

Do you get it? All of this persecution in different countries going on right under our noses. Things like this are happening all the time. Christianity is a dangerous religion for people in other countries. They are being tortured and held in prisons and shot and executed daily. These people who have this happen to them stand strong in their faiths. They don't lose faith with God, and they are willing to die and be persecuted for their maker.

Some of the Christians in America go through kids making fun of them at school for their faith, and they ditch that Christianity stuff. It's just not for them. I'm sorry, but there is something wrong there. Look at those examples of people dying from torture! And we have a problem when someone tells us we are a loser cause we are wearing a shirt that says John 3:16? What is wrong with this county!? Why can we not stand against words, when there are Christians standing in the midst of a burning room refusing to leave their faith. We are cowards. We should be standing up strong for our Lord. We are called to be warriors of Christ! No one can be a warrior who is afraid to be embarressed in front of people in their works or schools.

People, we have GOT to step it up. Get up off of your couch and go witness to your next door neighbor already! Go and start a youtube profile telling about the Lord. Do something for Christ! You will be persecuted. If you are not, it means your not doing anything for Christ. Lets be the generation that's on fire for Christ. And remember, "Blessed are those who are persecuted!" You will be blessed. Being persecuted and keeping on, shows that we are serious about Christ.

Dear Lord, help us to withstand the darts of the Devil, and keep us bold for you. We are going to be a generation for you Lord. We want to live for you every day of our lives, help us to reach out to people, and let us remember that we are blessed for you. We love you Lord. Amen. 

 ~Philippians 4:8
Whatsoever Things are Trues

Submission is Key

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. 

In the work place, in the church, in the homestead, almost anywhere you go you will find people in authority. Bosses, pastors, teachers, parents, the president. All of these people have been put into a position of authority and they must be held in the highest of respects. Treating these people with less than such is an insult to God's face, because he is the one who put them there in the first place. Obey God by obeying authority. Do not gossip behind these people's backs, and always say yes sir, yes ma'am with a smile. These are just little things that you should do to show respect to these people.

I know, I know, I've heard it before, "But you don't understand, my boss is horrible! He's rude and treats me like dirt." Uh, Hello! Jesus knows exactly how that feels!

Matthew 26:59-60 The chief priests and whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate.

it's not always easy to show respect and submission to bad leaders, but we can learn from Jesus that God will be out defense. Our actions as a Christian will defend us if we are living right. We may be persecuted and hated for it, but if we live right, the Lord will be our defense, but only if you show respect to your authority. The Lord cannot bless you if you gossip behind your bosses or teacher or coach's back. If we submit to our authorities we will be better disciplined in the end and better respected. Remember the Lord God himself put this person in that position, so please the Lord and show respect to your authorities.

Dear Lord God, help us to be strong in not retaliating when we are wronged by someone above us. Help us to act in a way pleasing to you and our authority. We love you so much Lord and we are hungry for your soon coming return. Amen

~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8