Kindness

 

Many people are inclined to react negatively due to undealt with, unhealed issues in their own lives. Every person is fighting a battle of some sort. That is why it is important to lay aside your natural response to take offense, and love the "unlovely."

We haven't been called to give people what they deserve. God has commanded us to treat others as we wish to be treated. We are also shown in Scripture that whatever it is we do to another (negative or positive)we are doing to Jesus Himself.

So before you lash out and choose harshness over kindness, pause and picture Jesus standing before you. All hurt inflicted on another is grieving the very heart of God.

"Rudeness, yelling, anger, and swearing are a weak man’s imitation of strength." (Author Unknown)

Let's be kind to one another. Kindness makes you more attractive :)

Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:27, Proverbs 20:3, Proverbs 29:20, James 1:19, Matthew 25:45)

Seeds to the World

 

We are seeds to the world...

God desires to plant us in the very center of certain individual's lives to represent who He is. We are called to demonstrate His heart and His ways.

A seed that is properly fed and watered will produce a harvest. This makes it imperitive that we stay in close fellowship with Him through studying of the Word and intimate prayer - so that His power can flow through us effectively for a harvest of souls.

For the sake of others, for the sake of a lost world, we owe it to Him to represent Him correctly.

Lord, help us stay focused on what our ultimate purpose is in the earth... Adjust our sight to not see just mere men in the earth, but living souls that Your life was laid down for. May their experiencing a walking example of You, through us, lead them straight to You...

 

I yield myself to Your use

I submit my will to Your ways

Jesus, glorify Your name through my life

I want to honor You all of my days

I commit myself to proclaim Your truth

Draw men’s hearts to You through me

It’s not Your will that any would perish

I want to be used to set men free

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzJxkqGiRbc

What is Love?

Most of us are familiar with the "love chapter" found in the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13. We've heard it recited at weddings or may have glanced through the verses ourselves. But have we ever slowed down and really dug into the passage to see exactly what it says? Did we let it penetrate us to the point where we are making a conscience effort to love others as we are commanded to do?

Let's break down what the Word says about true love, the God kind of love, the love that is placed within every person who comes to Christ. (Romans 5:5)

Love is patient (Suffers long, capable of waiting, able to endure delay without becoming annoyed or upset)
Love is kind (Refers to divesting your life. When you divest, you expect nothing in return)
Love is not jealous (Does not stew with envy)
Love does not brag (Bringing attention to oneself, pride on ourselves and our accomplishments)
Love is not arrogant (Making pretensions and claims to importance, excessive pride in onseslf)
Love does not behave rudely (Does not dishonor others, does not act unbecomingly)
Love does not seek its own (Doesn't pursue selfish advantage, not self seeking, lets God "run the show")
Love is not provoked (Not easily angered, irritable, touchy or resentful)
Love thinks no evil (Keeps no record of wrongs, takes no account to evil done to it)
Love rejoices in the truth (Shares the joys of those who live by Truth)
Love bears all things (Knows no limits to its endurance, bears up under anything)
Love believes all things (No end to its trust, ever ready to believe the best in every person)
Love hopes all things (No fading of its hope)
Love endures all things (Endures everything without weakening)
Love never fails (Does not drop away, goes on forever, wins out in the end)

Lord, we want to love like You. We want to develop true, lasting relationships that are grounded in the love that only comes from You. You tell us that even if we abound in spiritual gifts, possess all knowledge, give graciously to the poor, sacrifice our lives - but we do not sincerely love others - we have gained nothing. May Your Word penetrate our spirits so that we can come to a better understanding of what the God kind of love really is. In Jesus' Name. Amen.