How To Show Love

Love isn’t just in romantic relationships. Love should be everywhere in our life; in every relationship with every person we meet. I know I find it hard to show love to some people sometimes, but as a Christian we should love everyone we come in contact with. We are told to “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8.

The Bible tells us exactly what love is. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

We are also taught ways to love and show love. To show love we should listen without interrupting-“He who answers before listening- that is his folly and his shame.” Proverbs 18:13. To show love we should also speak without accusing-“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” James 1:19. Like 1 Corinthians tells us “love is patient” therefore we should be slow to become angry with one another. It’s hard to show love if you’re hurting each other out of anger. Proverbs 17:1 tells us that we should answer without arguing, “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.”

Charity comes from the heart; love also comes from the heart. Proverbs 21:26 says “All day long he craves for more, but the righteous gives without sparing.” If we have a loving heart we should want to help others. Helping others doesn’t always mean giving them things, it could also mean building them up with words or giving advice.

I have a good group of prayer partners. We love each other and praying for each other strengthens our relationships. Colossians 1:9 tells us that we should pray for each other without ceasing, “For this reason, since the day we have heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with knowledge of his will through all.”

Our earthly selves want to complain when we don’t want to do something, but complaining isn’t a way of showing love. If you’re complaining about helping someone with a task, or going and doing something that they like to do it makes it sound like you don’t want to spend time with them. “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Philippians 2:14.

Don’t hold grudges. Grudges damage relationships, and makes it hard to show love to one another. “Bear with each other and forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 13:7.

Dear "Christians"

          It’s come to my attention how we as Christians act towards other people and honestly it’s appalling. Why are we sitting here condemning people for their actions? Are we not sinning just as much as them? Remember all sins are equal in God’s eyes. That’s right, so that guy you were judging for being gay the other day, well your sins are just as bad as his.

          Why are we sitting in church and not being friendly and welcoming everyone that walks into the doors? It doesn’t matter how many tattoos and piercings someone has, it doesn’t matter if it’s an unmarried couple expecting a child, it doesn’t matter if they are a successful small business owner, or if they are a homeless drug addict they ALL deserve the same amount of love and should all feel as welcome as the next into our churches.

          Have you forgotten what Matthew 7:2 says? “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”, Matthew reminds us that how we sit there and judge another one of God’s creations is the same way that we will  be judged by God.

          Why do we as Christians think that we are too good to hang out with people that sin differently then we do? Have you forgotten that Jesus, the man that we are suppose to be modeling our lives after showed loved to prostitutes, homeless people, people with leprosy, and tax collectors. In fact one of Jesus’ disciples was a tax collector and wrote the first book of the New Testament.

          If Jesus would say something to today’s church do you believe that he would be happy with the lack of love and forgiveness in it? Jesus said that anybody could be his follower. Anybody means EVERYBODY, and everybody includes the drug addicts, homeless, prostitutes, tattooed and pierced, the single parents, the divorcees, the hurt and broken. All of these people deserve to know and feel God’s love, so why are we refusing to show it to them?

Calling All Women of God

          Many women today have no respect for themselves. They are walking around showing their body off wanting to look “sexy”. Why? Why do they believe that they have the right to go around showing off what is for their future husband? Why are they going around disrespecting what God created? What happened to the old ideas of how women should act?

          God teaches us women that we should be COMPASSIONATE. Proverbs 11:16 “A kind hearted woman gains respect…”. “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 30:20. Are you being compassionate? I don’t believe that verse 20 is only talking about the financially needy. Be compassionate towards the broken hearted, the people that are spiritually struggling and broken. Reach out and touch their hearts. Pray for them and for what they are struggling with.

          A woman of God should be FAITHFUL! “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:11-12. Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call he blessed, her husband also, and he praises her.” I believe that we are called to not only to be faithful to our husbands (or future husbands), but also to our family, friends, and church family. Do not go around and be unfaithful to your friends by spreading rumors and letting small disputes come between you. Build a firm relationship and encourage each other.

          God calls women to be HONORABLE. Proverbs 31:17 “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:25-26. God expects us to work hard at what we do and not do things that can bring shame to ourselves, our families, or God.

          Women of God should most importantly be GOD FEARING! Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” A woman of God should love God and know that he will provide no matter what is going on in her life at the moment. He has already provided us with so much, and we know that he can take it all away in a heart beat. Fear and love God!

My Testimony

I was raised in church. I went every time the doors were open. I was "saved" when I was 6, but I didn't really understand what having a personal relationship with God was all about. I've been an aunt since I was two and never really had much of a childhood because I was always helping out with my sister's four kids. Me and my mom did not have a very good relationship, but an amazing women at my daycare became like an extra mom to me and I had a wonderful relationship with her. When I was about ten years old my sister's kids started staying with us at night while she was working. My parents didn't pay me a lot of attention and I began to feel neglected and unloved and started at an extremely young age my battle with depression. When I was twelve my extra mom dies of a heart attack, and it turned my life completely upside now. I hadn't realized how much of an impact she had on my life. Around this time I started self harming and turning against God out of anger. The past four  years have been a huge challenge. I've come extremely close to suicide, and have left many scars on my body. Last year I went to camp with my youth group and one of the discussions was about the masks we wear. After that lesson I got the courage to tell my closest friends and youth pastor about what was going on in my life. Since that week at camp I have been trying to stop self harming (it's been over a month since the last time!), but my relationship with God still wasn't where it needed to be. This summer I went to a different camp and it was incredible! I'm on fire for God and haven't lost my passion since we've gotten home. I haven't been this happy in a long time, and I give all the glory to God! I've learned that no matter what is going on you can not turn your back to God.

No Hate Allowed

For some reason today's society gets a thrill out of bullying, hating, and insulting each other. It's a vicious cycle, and once it's started it's hard to end. This lack of love is leading to abuse, self-harm, and suicide. 

     Why does one person believe that they are bigger then someone and have the right to treat another person so horribly? Dd God not create each and everyone of us? Does he not look at each of us and say that we are created perfectly in his eyes? "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27. 

     It drives me crazy when I see people that claim to be Christians bullying other people. People that have a relationship with God should not care what a person's sexual orientation is, what their ethnicity is, or what a person's beliefs are. We are taught to love everyone regardless. God also tells us that he is love. "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1John 4:8. 

     To the people that are being hated on remember that you are a work of God. "I praise you because you are fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful and I know that full well." Psalm 139:14. 

"Spread the love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." -Mother Teresa

Just Forgive

Whenever someone wrongs us we're told to forgive and forget, but as humans we find that difficult to do or we just flat out don't want to. Human nature tells us to hold a grudge or to plot revenge. Why do we do that? Holding grudges and hating people over something that happened in the past and can't be changed is just stupid, and requires so much more work then just forgetting what happened and forgiving that person. I know it's not an easy thing to do, but lucky for us we have someone that is setting an amazing example for us. Psalm 86:5 says it all "You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you." If God can forgive us every time we sin against him then why can't we forgive the people that have wronged us? In Genesis 50:17 we are told "This is what you are to tell Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.." If Joseph could forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery then why can't we forgive someone for lying to us? It's natural to be mad at first, but forgiveness should be the next step. "There is a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time t build up." Ecclesiastes 3:3. Don't let the lack of ability to forgive destroy your relationships.  "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32  

True Love

As a teenager I am faced with many definitions of love. At school I hear love thrown around a lot. People say that you show love by sleeping with your boyfriend or girlfriend. To me love is respecting the person you are with and the people you're around. It's putting that person ahead of your selfish wants and desires. Love is being understanding, supportive, and forgiving. That's just my personal belief. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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 trust, always hopes, always perseveres." God says that love should be honest, patient, trusting, hopeful, and love should push through hard times.

Afraid of Trials?

Trials are scary things. Normal people don't like them. I'm not just talking about criminal trials or that trial basis that determines if you will get the job or not. I'm talking about the problems you go through in life anything from family problems to losing a job. These are the problems that cause people to either turn to God for help or run away from God. (I'd advice running to God).
My favorite verse about trials is James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.". Right there God promises that if we stand firm in our trials God will give us the life he promised- the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
Trials are scary and it's hard to understand why we're going through them while we're going through them. Speaking from experience there is a reason that we go through everything we go through. During hard time DO NOT turn against God, stand FIRM and GROW.

Why do I Believe?

       As a student at a public high school I am faced with many views on religion. We have Atheist, Agnostics, Hindus, Christians, and unfortunately some Satanists. This leads to many questions about why I believe what I believe. My answer is always the same simple answer. Because it makes sense.

          I believe in God the Father as our Creator and Jesus Christ as our Savior. I do not believe in evolution although I do find the theory of evolution interesting. I don’t believe in evolution because it makes no sense and there are too many unanswered questions. Where did the gas and the speck of dust come from that caused the Big Bang? If we evolved from other creatures then why are those creatures still here and why haven’t we evolved again? The Christian religion bluntly answers that question. Genesis 1:1 flat out says that “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” All through out the first chapter in Genesis the creation of the world and man and the animals of the Earth are explained. There are no unanswered questions about where we or the Earth came from.

          Many people say that to believe in God is to believe in a fairy tale because it takes so much imagination. To me it takes a whole lot more imagination to believe that I came from a monkey then to believe God spoke me into existence. I believe that everyone has the right to believe what they want, but I believe what makes the most sense to me. A loving God that sent his son to die for me, so that I may have eternal life with him.

Stop Talking

I have never understood why everyone seems to believe that talking is the only way to bring people to God. There are numerous people that hate Christians because they believe that all we do is talk. They believe that we are talkers, we say one thing but do something else. Unfortunately there are many Christians that prove their point. They claim to be Christians but actually completely different then they should.
In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) we as Christians are called to go out among the nations and baptize in God's name. We are also called to obey what God teaches and lead by example not just words.
My church's theme this year is We Care. We are showing our communities that we are true Christians. We are setting the example for how Christians really should be. We aren't just going on condemning people for their sins and shoving the Bible in their face we are showing God's love through our actions. We are bringing people to God through our actions and love.
This is my challenge to you - Stop talking and start doing.

God's Love

First I am going to ask a simple question. What is love? When asked people answered with things like a lifetime commitment, crazy happiness, a puppy with a wet nose, not always easy, but comfortable, unconditional, and sacrifice. While all these are true the Webster definition is head on. Love is a strong affection for another; warm attachment, enthusiasm, devotion; unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. I know of only one person who fits this description of love, one who never wavers in his love for us. God.

Every Christian has heard John 3:16 "For God so loved the world he sent his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Sure we've all heard it, read it, and most have it memorized, but how many of us have really thought about it. I'm not a mom yet, but I am an aunt. I can't imagine sending one of my nieces or nephews to die for a bunch of sinners. God knew from the beginning that not everyone would accept him and care for his sacrifice, but he did it anyways. That's what I call unselfish love.

Have you ever thought about how the Parable of the Lost Son applies to us and God?
"But while he was still a long way away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
Luke 15:20
No matter what we do God forgives us if we just ask. Just like the father we,comes his son God is waiting for us with compassion and open arms.

"Know therefore that the Lord you God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generation of those who love him and keep his commands." Deuteronomy 7:9
God promises his love to us generation after generation. This should make you feel loved. God promises us love even when no one else does.

"The Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." John 16:27
We are told that God loves us because we love and believe in him.

Read Isaiah 43:1-7. Incredible right? A few things stick out to me. In verse 2 God promises that because he loves us he will protect us. In verse 4 God bluntly says I love you. You the one readings these words.

God loves us all! No matter what we do God loves us unconditionally and is waiting for us to tell him we love him too.

Throne of God

Continuing my study in Crazy Love I read about the throne of God and was simply amazed at the descriptions. I found myself trying to image how God's throne must look, but then I realized that his throne is beyond my wildest imagination. That's saying something because I have a wild imagination.

My reading was in Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6, which I recommend everyone to read. In Revelation 4 the throne is described to have the appearance of jasper and carnelian, both of which are beautiful quartz used in making jewelry. I went on to read that the throne is encircled by a rainbow. When I picture this i tried to remember the best rainbow I've seen and multiply it by a thousand, but even that isn't enough to describe the beauty. Personally I take the beauty of the throne as a display of how magnificent God is.

The next verses go onto to show the power of God. Beside the throne there are 24 elders that are also seated on thrones. These are the elders that later in Revelation 4:11 fall before God worshipping him and saying, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you you created all things and by your will they created and have their being." In Revelation 4:5 we are told that from the throne comes lightning and rolls of thunder. In front of the throne stands 7 burning lamps that represent the 7 Spirits of God. Verse 6 tells us of the 4 creatures surrounding the throne all of which are covered in eyes and have 6 wings. We are told that the creatures are like a lion, ox, face like a man, and a soaring eagle. These 4 creatures day and night worship God by saying, " Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:8)

I love Isaiah's reaction to this sight "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among people with unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the Lord God Almighty."

I can't help but think that one day we too will be joining in with the never ending worshipping.

Who is God?

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines God as the being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as Creator and ruler of the Universe. Sound like how you picture God? Using ideas from Francis Chan’s Crazy Love I’ve come up with who God is.

          God is HOLY! Holy is define as exalted or worthy of complete devotion. In Joshua 24:19 Joshua puts in plainly “Joshua said to the people, You can’t serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God…” God is distinct from us and our imperfections. As sinners we don’t have the right to be in the presence of such a Holy being, but God loves our praise and devotion.

          God is ETERNAL!  Eternal is defined as having an infinite duration; valid or existing at all times. God exists outside of our concept of time. For me it’s hard to understand the concept of eternity and just how long God has been around. Jeremiah 10:10 “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal king...” To me God also represents eternal life. In John 5:20 he is called just that “…He is the true God and eternal life.”

          God is ALL KNOWING! Knowing is defined as having or reflecting knowledge or information. I love this about God! God knows who we really are. He doesn’t care about whom people pretend to be. He knows what is in our hearts. Which it what really matters. Hebrews 4:13 states “There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

          God is ALL POWERFUL!  Power is the possession of control, authority, or influence over others. God demands our love, praise, and attention. God created everything for him. God isn’t here to bless us we are here to bless God. Psalm 29:4 states that “Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty.”

          God is FAIR AND JUST!  Fair means marked by impartiality and honesty. Just means acting or being with what is morally up right and good. God is perfect and hates sin. As sinners shouldn’t we all be punished for our sins, but God being a just ad fair God gives us mercy and forgives us of our sins IF we truly love him. God does punish sinners. The people that continually deny Christ will get their punishment an eternity in hell. Sounds a bit harsh right? Think about it. For the people that love God we get forgiveness, for the people that oppose God they get punishment. Sounds pretty fair to me.