​27 February 2016
Al Gore on a Bike
1 John 3:18
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

Saying and doing are two different things. What gets us in the most trouble is when we profess something but then don’t live in such a way that supports our beliefs. For instance, Al Gore is very passionate about the fate of the climate, but if he were really as concerned as he says he is, he would not be able to stomach getting on a jet plane for sake of the environment. Yet, he travels using jet fuel and giant SUVs every time he goes to lecture people on the evils of the very things he uses to travel to his speaking engagements. That makes me think his passion about climate change is not sincere because his own practices haven’t changed to accommodate for the message he’s spreading. There’s never any news footage of him traveling by bicycle. Just saying.

How equally unbecoming for a Believer to accept the love and grace of Jesus Christ and profess a deep appreciate for these things yet live in such a way that denies his impact on our lives? Jealousy, grudge holding, and smack talking are not good indicators that there is love in our hearts for others. That’s why John tells us not to merely say that we love each other, we have to actually love each other by what we do. Just saying it and not doing it makes me an Al Gore level hypocrite.

Actions that show love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7...
*Being patient with someone.
*Being kind to someone. Offer help, hugs, and uplifting words.
*Don’t be jealous but thankful for the good someone else has.
*Don’t boast about or broadcast the good that we do for others.
*Don’t be rude by trying to “put someone in their place.”
*Don’t try to get my own agenda accomplished but prefer other people’s ideas and schedules.
*Don’t be irritated by others but give grace for their shortcomings instead.
*Never hold a grudge or keep score with someone over disappointments. 
*Never ever be glad about someone’s misfortune or wish someone ill will.
*Encourage others heartily.
*Don’t write anyone off; always hope for reconciliation even if it doesn’t seem probable.
*Pray for God to give the one I am trying to love lots of godly wisdom and joy so that the Holy Spirit can work in that person’s life thereby making me free to love them like this list prescribes. 

Dear God,
Thank you for loving me while I have certainly not deserved it. Help me not to fall into the trap of being a hypocrite thinking that others must deserve love from me. I want to freely give it because I freely get it and I want my actions to match my beliefs. I love you so much, and I just can’t thank you enough for the many ways you’ve shown love to me and the many ways you show me that I can show love to others. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​15 February 2016
Not an Instinct
1 John 4:19
We love each other because he loved us first.

1 John 4 tells us that love comes from God and that God is love (see v.7-8). Love is God’s invention; it is not the instinct of man. Loving your husband and even loving your own baby is what we’ve learned from God not what humans naturally do. If love was an instinct, there would be no divorce and no abortions. God invented love, and love is so good that people copy it even if they have no intention of giving God credit for it.

The only reason I love other people is because of God. This is true for the atheist and the indifferent as well. God also invented gravity, magnetism, and dirt. He generously allows anyone and everyone to freely be a part of his inventions whether they give him credit and thanks for it or not.

But it’s arrogant to assume that we love others because we want to. We love others because we enjoy the benefits of love. But the only kind of love that lasts is the kind of love Jesus’ shows. All other love will run out of will power or time.

There may be a great many married people enjoying God’s invention of love. They even get to enjoy it even if they don’t give God credit. But their love for each other will run out one day. They will either run out of will power or they’ll run out of time on earth because only those who love with the love of Jesus in them will live to love for eternity.

All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. (1 John 4:15-17)

So, if you really love someone - tell them about Jesus, so you can love each other for forever!

Dear God,
Thank you for my husband and for my kids. I love them so much. I love them just the way they are and they love me just the way I am. This is a very free and comforting environment for my heart especially knowing that they love YOU and we will live to love each other forever with you. Thank you so much that you intend no end in sight to all this love you’ve placed in my heart. Thank you! Thank you so much! I love YOU, and I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

9 February 2016  
Flourishing Faith and Growing Love
2 Thessalonians 1:3  
Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

What would the world look like if all the churches received a letter like this? Flourishing faith and growing love are obvious and noticeable things. And obvious and noticeable things make people think. And we want people to think about Jesus.

That’s all we want to do, right? We want people to think about Jesus, and the best way to do that is to do the things he does. It’s really quite simple and doesn’t cost any money either. Churches do not need elaborate programs with trendy slogans and lots of money to purchase them. Churches just need to promote two things: Faith and Love.

The way to grow faith is to teach it. Churches should simply teach what the Bible says.
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17) People who have a place to go where they can hear the Word of God taught accurately and often will flourish in their faith. I think this verse says “hearing” the word because not everyone read and not everyone had scrolls on the shelf at home back in Bible times. But reading the Bible definitely counts as hearing the word, and the more we hear by reading certainly grows our faith as well.

The way to grow love is to do it. This requires a little sacrifice to one’s own personal preferences and that’s about it; it’s not tough to do. It’s like when parents want their older kid not to squabble with the younger kid even though it might not be “fair.” Love involves being patient, kind, and not getting your own way all the time. (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7) That’s how we teach our older children to get along with their younger siblings, and it is what we must do within our church family. 1 Corinthians 13 goes on to say, When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. It is unbecoming for a teenager to act more like a child than an adult, and it’s unbecoming when a Believer does not make allowances for someone else’s faults. (See Colossians 3:13)

Bottom line:
Jesus said, in John 13:35, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. My action is my faith on display.

And John said, in 1 John 4:20-21, If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. 

And I learned these truths about love from hearing (reading) the Word and growing my faith.

Dear God,
Help my faith and love to both grow today with no end in sight. Help me do what I do correctly more, and help me put away childish things and not do things that are unbecoming for someone who loves you. I love you so much and desire to obey you with all my heart. Help love and faith be on the hearts and minds of all Believers today so our little gathering places can be noticed by all, especially the ones who might seek you. I love you and thank you for giving me love and faith through your Son, Jesus, in whose name I pray, amen.

​5 February 2016
Trust Issues
Psalm 33:4
For the word of the Lord holds true,
    and we can trust everything he does.

The Lord is faithful. Paul describes just how faithful he is in Hebrews 13:8-9...
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace...

He doesn’t change, but times change, public opinion changes, and people change. It’s a trap to think that God changes too. If he did change in anyway, he wouldn’t be trustworthy. But he doesn’t, so he is!

I don’t think I always make the connection that my fears and worries are based in a lack of trust. I’m a Believer, of course I trust God. But, if I really trust him, I must resist the urge to take matters into my own hands so much. If there is a problem, I shouldn’t go nuts trying to find a solution. The solution is simply asking God, “What are you going to do about this?” Even if his solution doesn’t seem good or logical to me, I choose to trust him over myself because, looking back, my track record is nowhere near as good as his!

Dear God,
Thank you for your faithfulness that doesn’t ever shift or change. Thank you that EVERY SINGLE time I look back on a problem I see how you worked it out or changed my heart about the issue because you know the behind the scenes stuff I don’t know. Just like I want my kids to trust me because I know more than they do, please help me to trust you every day and do what you say even if it means for me to do nothing and wait for you to do everything. I love you so much. Please forgive my worry that is actually a lack of trust while I think I’m trusting in you and I’m really not –  that’s embarrassing! Thank you for loving me and helping me anyway! And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

3 February 2016
All Before 8 am!
Psalm 59:16
But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

Each morning... The first moments of every day are God’s – not out of obligation, stress, to look good or feel good or to get something from him but simply because it’s fitting.

Here’s why:
The whole earth is his! (Psalm 24:1)
His mercies are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22-23)
This is the day that He has made! (Psalm 118:24)

It doesn’t make any sense for me to open my eyes in the morning and direct my thoughts towards anything else first thing but Him. Everything I am and everything I have is from Him. He’s got little gifts of mercy stored up today for me to find like a treasure. And He made today – another day for me to enjoy more of himself – for me!

Yes! God can have my first thoughts today. It’s fitting. Very fitting.

Dear God,
It’s not corny to sing about your unfailing love every single morning when I wake up. You deserve to be first on my mind when I wake up, what I think about during the day, and my last thought at night. This is what I want. You don’t even demand or require it, but you certainly do deserve it. Thank you! Thank you so much for my home and family, for our good health and for keeping us safe. Thank you for the fascinating children in our home, thank you that our parents live close by and enjoy good health too, and thank you for our church family. Thank you for my husband’s job, for vehicles that work, food on our table, and for warm beds. Thank you for my mother-in-law’s birthday today and for giving her another year with us to love on her and be with her. These are great mercies you have revealed to me today and all before 8 am! I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​2 February 2016
It’s Unheard Of
1 Corinthians 2:9
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”

Paul is quoting this scripture to reveal that God doesn’t plan or execute his leadership the way worldly leaders do. Human leadership likes to rule not serve, rewards only a select few, and places burdens helpless people. But God, the Ultimate Leader, doesn’t operate like this at all, so Paul is using this passage to describe how incredibly unheard of it is for God to operate his leadership like he does.

Jesus describes God’s “mysterious” leadership perfectly:
...Tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, (With God, the impossible happens!) and the Good News is being preached to the poor. (Good things are usually only reserved for those who can afford it, but God doesn’t need our resources!) And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’ (The faithful are blessed and no one can take that away!) 
From Matthew 11:4-6

I love God’s brand of leadership. It’s nothing like ours. Our current candidates for president are more interested in what we can do for them than the other way around. But God can trump a Trump, and he can put a criminal where she belongs. Believers should make wise choices, but we should never put our hope and trust in a candidate to turn things around. Only God can do the impossible, and turning our country around certainly does seem impossible right now. But whether or not America halts its decline isn’t the most important thing. Remaining faithful to God and continuing to trust in him no matter who occupies the White House next year is the most important thing because God’s Kingdom lasts much longer than just 4 years – it lasts forever, and it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen!

Dear God,
Thank you so much for not limiting yourself to the human leadership we understand and know. Your ways are generous and inclusive, strange and hopeful, exciting and unheard of. I’m so glad you made a way for me that no one, no power, and no president can take away. Thank you for eternal life through Jesus, your Son, and I thank you and praise you in his name, amen.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
​(Romans 8:38-39)