LOVE - HATE

(John 15:17-18) These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

 Doing right will not make everyone love you. Hate comes so naturally in this world and the more you look and act like Jesus Christ the more many will naturally hate you. So, be prepared for hostility and persecution so that you will not return it in kind. Prepare yourself to respond instead with love, grace and truth.  

(Proverbs 10:12) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Responding with hate always aggravates problems. Wrong actions only stir up strife, discord and division.

Love covers transgressions. Love never makes wrong right, but it does put it in perspective and allows us to work on resolution. “Love bears all things…” 1Corinthians 13:4-8a.

We need to be asking ourselves this question.

How do we move from defensive reactions to loving actions?

Talking Parrots

We constantly hear people “parrot” things with great conviction that do not address root problems but instead tend to make the current situation more serious and often violent. With various perspectives no longer considered, love, and compassion are cast aside like unnecessary waste. It is only as we trust God’s word and ways that we will be able to stop and listen long enough to care and learn what the true need of another is. “Parroted” rhetoric needs replaced by genuine love; and God is love. May our words be overshadowed by God’s love and compassion flowing through us.

Too Tired!

We all know that times can be so rough that even the young & strong faint & fall at times. Yet God defines a special group and promises strength to “they that wait upon the Lord!” We have all been there.

Often we ask:

·  Why is God’s not answering my prayers?

·  Why do I struggle so with this sin in my life?

·  Why can’t I seem to get out this depressed state I’m in? Why? Why? Why?

We know in our heart God is so amazing and yet here I sit with all these problems! I’m too tired, I can’t go on!

We like to wait FOR God to deliver for our own benefit!

God promises his strength to those waiting  UPON HIM! Serving for His benefit & glory!

Promising Renewed strength to:

Reach new heights.

Run the race to win!

Walk the walk & not faint or fall.

When we are tired, we must remember that renewal is found in serving our God not quitting; in serving others in His Name and for their benefit.

We can’t afford to lay down
 and quit now!

A N G E R

Today we find anger and wrath rewarded with advancement and fame. Yet, even when it provides some “success”, it is a terrible trap that will at some point overtake and destroy.

Experience has taught me that anger usually rises out of FEELINGS of powerlessness or inadequacy.

    · I deserve better
      —but I can’t make it happen.

    · I want them to love me
      —but I must not be enough.

    · I want more and since I can’t get it by achievement
      —I will bully my way to more.

Trouble is ANGER leads to bad judgment and bad judgment to growing problems!

Change really occurs in our mind and heart first, and then works out into our behavior!

Ephesians 4:31 "AND" 32