Love Walk

Happy Sunday!

Dr. Bill Winston continued his series entitled, "The Power of Love", with the subtitle, "Climbing Without Compromise". He has been using many scriptures, but the main scripture has been Matthew 22:34.

Contrary to popular belief, God deliberately places us as seed in the world.  Like any proud parent he wants to show us off to the world.  Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."   God did not intend for us to stay inside the four walls of the church building shining our lights on each other.  Light is needed in dark places. We are the church! 1 Peter 2:5 says, "You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house. You are to serve God in this house as holy priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices that he will accept because of Jesus Christ." (Easy-to-Read Version)

It's not easy!  I repeat, this Love Walk is not easy!  But God tells us to love and he gives us his love to love with. Once we recognize the enormous debt God has forgiven us of, the easier it will be to extend love and forgiveness to others. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." 2 Timothy 2:1-5 (KJV)  Did you see that? Paul compared this Christian life to a soldier leaving his personal life behind while he focuses on the battle. 

Now, before you give up and throw in the towel because of the difficulties in this life...remember God is a good father. He wants all your needs to be met so that you can minister to others unhindered. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share." (Voice)  Are you still fearful? Check this out! Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19 (KJV)  

Walking in Love, love and prayers, Cynthia

Do you look like your Daddy?

Happy Sunday!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful, loving, caring, and responsible fathers out there! I pray you enjoyed the day and were acknowledged and appreciated.

Dr. Bill Winston continued his series, "The Power of Love" with the subtitle, "Climbing Without Compromise" and a new additional focus on "Perfect Love".

God made us in his image and his likeness.  Have you ever heard someone say, "That child is the spitting image of their father"?  Of course you have.  And if the child doesn't resemble the father at all, the old folks would say, "there must be a dead cat on the line".  LOL!  It's funny, but it's true.  We should resemble our father.  1 John 4:16 says, "God is love." (KJV)  Logically, if God is love and he created us we were made by love.  Love is not a fuzzy feeling. Love is a lifestyle. When we understand fully the love God has for us we will be able to share that love with the world.

1 John 4:18 from the Phillips Translations says, "Love contains no fear—indeed fully-developed love expels every particle of fear, for fear always contains some of the torture of feeling guilty. This means that the man who lives in fear has not yet had his love perfected."  Did you get that?  Fully developed love contains no fear! There are so many things happening in the world to cause us to fear.  But the Word of God is encouraging us, and commanding us to love and assuring us "Perfect", mature love dispels fear.

How can I get this love?  So glad you asked!  Romans 5:5 says, "And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love." (Voice)  Isn't that incredible! God tells you to love, then gives you His love to love with!  All you have to do is cooperate with the Holy Spirit! When someone mistreats you and you want to retaliate, the Holy Spirit reminds you..."Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord." Romans 12:19 (New Living Translation)  When your money is shorter than your month and you are tempted to worry and fret, the Holy Spirit encourages you..."And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (New Living Translation)  When the doctor tells you there is nothing that can be done to help you, the Holy Spirit assures you..."He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies." Psalm 103:3-4 (NLT)  

One last thing that always amazes me, Revelation 21:8 lists the people who will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. It says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (KJV)  OUCH!  The fearful?  What's so bad about being afraid? Good question!  Being afraid that your enemy will not get what's coming to him will cause you to be angry.  That anger can cause you to sin.  Being afraid that you will never meet Mr. or Mrs. Right could cause you to settle for Mr. or Mrs. Right Now.  This could be devastating to your purpose and your future.  Being afraid that God's Word is not true could cause you to neglect it, devalue it, and ignore it.  This will lead you to trust in yourself, your education, or your money..."He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." Proverbs 11:28 (KJV)..."He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26 (KJV)..."Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV)

Working on perfecting my love walk...love and prayers, Cynthia

Perspective

Happy Sunday!

Enjoying a wonderful vacation with my sister, Jacque in San Franscicso and Napa Valley.  Praying that you are having a wonderful weekend as well.

Thank God for technology.  I was able to be blessed by Rev. Jeffrey Johnson II, from Eastern Star Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He preached for the Youth Service at Bates Memorial Baptist Church, in Louisville, Kentucky today.  His message was entitled, "I Ain't Religious, I'm in a Relationship" and he used Matthew 12:1-14 as his reference scriptures.

Quick point to take away, "When you have the correct perspective of God's Word, you will have the correct perspective of God's world!"  We have discussed this time and time again.  Get to know the Word and you will know God and his will.  Loving God is not about religiously doing this or that, it's about loving God so much you want to build that relationship and everything you do shows his love to the world.

Also, I owe Otis Redding an apology.  I always heard the song, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay", and thought what a lazy song.  Why didn't he get up and do something.  Well seeing the bay after the tide goes out, I realized there is nothing to do.  Nothing but be amazed at the awesomeness of God.  The Word says the earth declares that there is a God.  Creation proclaims daily that this was no accident.  You are not an accident, no matter what your parents may have told you.  God knows you and has great plans for you.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Real Love Obeys

Happy Sunday!

Dr. Bill Winston continued his series entitled, "The Power of Love" with the subtitle "Climbing Without Compromise".

When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior our spirit became new!  2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!" (Living Bible) We've talked about it before.  If you were blond when you were saved, you were still blond after you got saved.  Unless of course, Miss Clairol was involved!  Dr. Winston reminded us that, "Your flesh is not you!" Your flesh is a container for your spirit and your soul.  The spirit within you is the real you.  1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (KJV)  Did you get that? Our physical eyes, ears, and heart cannot comprehend the wonderful things that God has prepared for us, BUT the Holy Spirit has and can reveal these things to us!  He also said these awesome blessings are only for those that love God.  How do we really know that we love God?  Good question! John 14:21 has the answer, "The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]" (Amplified)

I know, I know...you're saying how hard it is to keep the commandments and why didn't we get an easier task.  But look at this, 1 John 5:3 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (KJV)  So the Word says that keeping the commandments of God is not grievous.  What does grievous mean? Grievous is defined as "causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow"  WOW!  So doing things God's way is a way to avoid severe pain, suffering, and sorrow! Those sound like things I'd like to avoid. How about you?  Now, don't get me wrong.  Bad things do happen to good people sometimes, but Jesus encouraged us in the Word, "I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:33 (Message)

We were created to WIN!  In order to win we must walk in love and integrity. While you are climbing your ladder of success in your chosen or given field, remember you can't change anything that you depend on.  Depend on God! Trust him for your success! Believe that his way is the best way, and follow it.  James 4:7-10 says, "So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet." (Message)

Love and prayers, Cynthia