Known by their Love...

Happy Sunday!

Dr. Bill Winston continued his series, "The Power of Love".  This installment was entitled, "Know them by their love".

Love is more than a feeling!  It's easy to see this fact in our society, with people falling in and out of love.  Love is not a feeling, Love is a person.  1 John 4:8 says, "God is Love."

So if God is Love and we are the people of God, our lives should represent love.  But if Love is not a feeling, what is Love?  Glad you asked.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8 holds the answer to this important question.

Love is patient  - WOW!  Love is patient!  Even with unruly, impatient, and unlearned individuals.

Love is kind  -  Love speaks kind words and lives a life full of kindness.

Love isn’t envious - Love is happy and grateful for the things it has.  Love trusts that God will give them the desires of their heart, so there is no need to envy what others possess.

Love doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about - Love is thoughtful and even if Love has a reason to toot their own horn they choose not to, in order to build up others.

There’s no arrogance in love - Love does not deal in pride.  Love does not think or act as though they are smarter, or wiser than others or God.  Love beleives the Word and trusts God.

It’s never rude, crude, or indecent - this one needs no explanation. Or does it?

It’s not self-absorbed - Pride is self-centered. Humility is God-centered.  James 4:6 says, "It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”

Love isn’t easily upset - Love does not wear their heart on their sleeve.

Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! 

Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. 

Love will never become obsolete. Now as for the prophetic gifts, they will not last; unknown languages will become silent, and the gift of knowledge will no longer be needed.

Faith works by Love.  Love is not easy, but it promises great rewards!

"We know that those who have been born from God don’t go on sinning. Rather, the Son of God protects them, and the evil one can’t harm them." - 1 John 5:18 (God's Word Translation)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Foxes

Happy Sunday!

Luke 16:10-12 says, "He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?" (Amplified)

My mother-in-law, Minnie Pruitt used to say, "The Bible is so easy that a child can understand it and a fool would have no reason to err."  What a true statement,  Now we even have thousands of translations and versions that make it even easier to understand. So why are we still depressed, dissatisfied, disgusted, and diseased?  Could it be that we haven't applied the scriptures in Luke 16? Are we being faithful in the small things? Jesus was speaking! Do we believe what we are reading?  If we really beleive what Jesus said, we will do what Jesus said!

So what are the small things in your life? Think about it this way!  If you can't manage one employee, how will you be promoted to manage 100 employees?  If you can't keep your one bedroom apartment clean, how will you maintain a 3000 square foot house?  If you can't tithe a dime on that dollar, can you really be trusted with the millions you desire? Song of Solomon 2:15 says, "the little foxes are destroying our grape-fields".  The little foxes digging under and burrowing under the grape vines can break the connection of the vine and the branches.  It's the little things that can keep us separated from our blessings.  Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples." John 15:5-8 (Message)

My work is cut out for me!  I've got things to do.  I'll be identifying and eliminating little foxes this week!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Deny

Happy Sunday!

Luke 9:23-24 says, "If any of you want to walk My path, you’re going to have to deny yourself. You’ll have to take up your cross every day and follow Me.  If you try to avoid danger and risk, then you’ll lose everything. If you let go of your life and risk all for My sake, then your life will be rescued, healed, made whole and full."(Voice)

Deny means to refuse to give something to someone, or to prevent someone from having something. It sounds so simple.  We have just come out of the season of Lent.  Christians as well as non-christians denied themselves things in an attempt to show reverence for the Lord.  Jesus told his disciples to "deny" themselves daily!  Daily?  How can I do that?  So glad you asked!  

Jesus was telling his disciples, that in order to take up your cross daily you must be willing to kill yourself daily in front of other people. Don't get me wrong. Jesus was not suggesting, or encouraging suicide.  Suicide is the ultimate act of selfishness! He was comparing the daily love walk with the most extreme torture of his day. Being unselfish, and considering others over ourselves is taking up the cross daily. Dr. Leroy Thompson, Jr. said, "We cannot be so in love with ourselves that we are not willing to lose our identity for the identity of Christ!"  True denial of self, is allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us daily in every situation. It's denying ourselves in traffic, at work, in our family relationships, with unreasonable people, and most importantly with those outside of the Body of Christ.  Jesus said, "our strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35 (TLB) Did you get that? If you want to prove that you are truly a Christian, then it will be evident in the way you LOVE! It's not easy, but it's possible.  It is only possible however, by LOVE.

1 John 4:6-7 says,  "We come from God, and those who know God hear us. Whoever is not from God will not listen to us. This is the way we discern the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. My loved ones, let us devote ourselves to loving one another.Love comes straight from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and truly knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."(Voice)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Pride X2

Happy Sunday!

Praying that your week was fabulous!  I'm still studying and listening to the Holy Spirit to determine what can be hindering my blessings. The Word says, "in the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established." Matthew 18:16 (KJV)  All week, minister after minister I listened to was speaking about "Pride".  Yes, pride!  Sure, you probably think this message has nothing to do with you.  So did I. 

James 4:6 says, "God resisteth the proud". Could it be that I'm operating in pride and causing God to resist me? James was writing to the church!  He was not writing to the world.  Pride is Self-Centered. Pastor Duane Sheriff describes pride like a stick. One end of the pride stick is arrogance and the other end of the same stick is false humility. Arrogance is an insulting way of acting or feeling that you are better than others.  Still not touching you? Think about it this way.  God says a certain thing is an abomination, our society says it's a personal choice.  That's arrogance.  The Word says, "a soft answer turns away wrath", but we insist on giving people a piece of our mind! (Proverbs 15:1) That's arrogance. God says, "Give and it shall be given", but we say hold that dollar until it screams.  God knows my heart.  Yes, he does, that's arrogance.  That's pride!  

The other end of that pride stick is false humility.  The deacons used to pray, "Lord, here it is again, and again your humble servant, knee bent and body bowed to the mother dust".  I smile every time I say that. I love those prayers! So down to earth.  We just have to remember to keep it simple. False humility is pride in another way.  False humility opposes God by refusing to accept what God says about who YOU are in Christ.  We are no longer just sinners saved by grace. After we were saved, the Word says we are now made "the righteousness of God". (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Did you get that? You are no longer a worm!  Your spirit has been recreated and made new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Jesus said that he came to give us life and life more abundantly, false humility over spiritualizes this and denies that God wants us to prosper in every area of our lives.(John 10:10)  That's pride!

Don't confuse confidence with arrogance!  We have been given authority by Jesus!  He said we would do greater works than he did! (John 14:12)  We are to be bold in the Word, not offensive, but BOLD! The Apostle Paul prayed that he would be able to speak the Word with boldness. (Acts 4:29)

So if pride is self-centered, the opposite of pride is God-centered!  I don't want God to resist me!  I want everything Jesus died to pay for!  I intend to study and meditate on the Word.  I intend to believe what I read and trust that God is "true and every man a liar". (Romans 3:4)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Pride

Happy Sunday!

If you know anything about me, you know I love the Word of God.  It's alive to me and daily I'm seeing more and more.  Lately, I been seeking God about why I have not seen more of his manifested blessings in my life: Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically, and Financially.  I will share with you later, but the Parable of the Sower has been a real blessing to me.  We all want to think that we are continually "Good Ground", but could it be we are sometimes stony, wayside,  or weed choked soil.  Mark 4:14 says, "The Sower sows the Word." (Amplified)  Immediately the enemy (birds) came to eat that Word, before the seeds had a chance to get down in the soil and germinate. Could it be that the enemy has stolen our seed?  That's for another day!  

Recently, a dear friend, Debra L. Flournoy-Selman posted the following on Facebook. It is profound and yet so simple.  The word says, "Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall." Proverbs 16:18 (Living Bible)  This made me think, and reevaluate a few things.  I pray that it blesses you as well.

MY NAME IS PRIDE... I am a cheater!!!.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment…

because you “deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge…

because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing…

because you are too full of you to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness…

because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.

I cheat you of vision…

because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship…

because nobody’s going to know the REAL you.

I cheat you of love…

because "real" romance demands "sacrifice".

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…

because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory…

because I convinced you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I AM a CHEATER.

You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.

Untrue. I’m looking to make a FOOL of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…If you stick with me you’ll NEVER know.

Selah. Love and prayers, Cynthia

Give, and it Shall...

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas revealed the vision and expansion plans for the church this morning.  We are planning to build a permanent East Valley Campus, (the services are currently held in a high school auditorium), and remodeling and expanding the foyer of the main campus building for better crowd flow and control, and paying off debts on current facilities.  Sadly, the congregation grew quiet. The enemy has bombarded us with negative thoughts and impressions about preachers asking for money.  THIS IS A TRICK OF THE ENEMY! There is no shortage in the earth!  Did you hear me? There is no shortage in the earth! The enemy uses the spirit of poverty, lack, and rejection to keep us from really seeing and understanding the truth!  The enemy knows that if we ever get the truth about prosperity and abundance, we will destroy his kingdom!  1 John 3:8 says, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (KJV)

The enemy wants you to think that if another person or group prospers, it must be at your expense. Don't be fooled!  The way to get is to give. Giving is spiritual! Luke 6:38 says, "Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you."(Easy-to-Read Version)  

Bishop acknowledge that there are members of the congregation that are currently struggling financially. Then he reminded us of a very familiar Bible story.  1 Kings 17:8-16 says, "Then God spoke to him: “Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you.”  So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of the village he met a woman, a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, “Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink.” As she went to get it, he called out, “And while you’re at it, would you bring me something to eat?” She said, “I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don’t have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we’ll die.”  Elijah said to her, “Don’t worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what you've said. But first make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then go ahead and make a meal from what’s left for you and your son. This is the word of the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.’” And she went right off and did it, did just as Elijah asked. And it turned out as he said—daily food for her and her family. The jar of meal didn't run out and the bottle of oil didn't become empty: God’s promise fulfilled to the letter, exactly as Elijah had delivered it!

Bishop said, "God creates moments to get his people out of financial difficulty and challenges by creating moments for his people to exercise Faith in Him!"  Think of the Faith this woman had to exercise!  There was a famine and a drought in the land. She was a mother.  A true loving mother will sacrifice to provide for her children.  I love this quote and it fits in nicely right here.  "A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." ~(Tenneva Jordan)  But don't miss what God says, in verse 9, "I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you.”  Did you get that?  God had already spoken to the woman!  Even though she protested when the prophet asked her to make him a cake, God said he had already told her to feed the prophet.  I was discussing with a dear friend recently, how to know if God is telling you to do something or if it's the enemy.  The Bible says, "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." Matthew 18:16 (KJV)  The widow had two witnesses to the fact that she was to feed the prophet.  Even though this was the worst day of her life, an opportunity presented itself and her life was changed forever. What the prophet said, came to pass!  Her little bit of food was multiplied and she and her son did not have to eat their last meal and die of starvation. Bishop encouraged us, "The worst day, can be your best day!"

God is waiting to bless us! What's the hold up?  We have to check ourselves in the mirror of the Word. If we're looking good in the mirror of the Word, then have Faith that God has provided and the blessing is on the way!  Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." (Amplified)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Faith works by Love

Happy Sunday!

I pray that you have enjoyed the week, and are ready to embark on a new week! I've been hearing great messages all week and it was difficult to decide which one to share. I did notice a similar focus, LOVE.  Many ministers and pastors are ministering on Love.  Most importantly, the fact that Faith works by Love. "What makes a difference is faith energized by love." Galatians 5:6 (Voice) 

We spend so much time praying and believing, but it's important to know we can hinder our own answers to prayer by failing to love.  In 1 Peter 3:7, husbands are warned, "if you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers." (Living Bible)  We are very familiar with 1 Corinthians 13.  It's used in many weddings, but do we apply it to our daily unromantic lives? 

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

That's a lot!  Especially when we are faced daily with situations, and circumstances, and opportunities to fight back. Be encouraged!  God never asks us to do anything that is impossible.  He would be unjust to tell us to give this type of Love if it were not possible!  It's possible and we can do it.

1 John 4:4-21 says, "Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent his Son as the way to take away our sins.

That is how much God loved us, dear friends! So we also must love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us. If we love each other, God’s love has reached its goal—it is made perfect in us.

We know that we live in God and God lives in us. We know this because he gave us his Spirit. We have seen that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world, and this is what we tell people now. Anyone who says, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God,” is a person who lives in God, and God lives in that person. So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love.

God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them. If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will be without fear, because in this world we are like Jesus. Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear. It is his punishment that makes a person fear. So his love is not made perfect in the one who has fear.

We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God but hate any of our brothers or sisters in his family, we are liars. If we don’t love someone we have seen, how can we love God? We have never even seen him. God gave us this command: If we love God, we must also love each other as brothers and sisters." (Easy-to-Read Version)

Love and prayers, Cynthia