Love

Scripture of the day:

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. (1 John 2:9-11 NLT)

We are called to love. Even when we don't feel like it. 

Chose to love. 

Cain. Abel.

This scripture always bothered me... 

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. (Hebrews 11:4 NLT)

I could never understand how Abel's offering was by faith... But look at this:

Scripture of the Day:

Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. (Genesis 4:2 NLT)

Abel chose the same occupation Christ had... Tho he could not see Christ. Cain chose to work the dirt.. His daddy had just been cursed to do so. By choosing to cultivate the ground, Cain said, "I'm cursed... Let me go on with the ways of the world.. I could go in faith and walk in the ways of redemption, but nah... I'm going to do my own thing and tell God to bless it." So when he offered his offering, God was like... No... 

It wasn't offered in faith. Cain was chasing his own agenda... Yet wanted God to bless it.. Like saying, "Lord, I know you want me to do x... But I'm going to do y, soooo..." 

How often do I do that in my own life... I know God wants me to forgive people... But I chose not to... And then take that choice, that bitterness to God as an offering... That's not right... 

I need to walk in faith as Abel did... Not go by what I can see, but instead model after the visible image of the invisible God, Christ. 

Prayer of the day:

Father, help me see You and help me see myself created in that image. Less of me. More of You. 

Do You Want Fries With That?

It's our job to serve. 

If you worked at McDonalds, after receiving the customer's order, you would ask if they want fries with that. You would seek to serve their needs, even if they didn't ask you to... Because it's your job. Service. 

We are called to serve like Christ. 

We must love our neighbors and serve their needs even if they do not ask for it. 

This is what our Lord and Savior does. 

Scripture of the day!

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (John 13:3-5 NLT)

American Idol

God created Adam and saw that it was no good for man to be alone... And gave him Eve...

God gave his son a bride.

God also provides a bride for his only begotten son, Jesus. 

That bride is you and I, the church. 

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When God's people reject Him and turn to other idols (money, images, people...)...

It's is like the bride rejecting the groom. 

Church rejecting Jesus - Eve rejecting Adam

We go on, in our idolatry, and pair with things we are not suppose to pair with. 

People worship other people

... The bride has paired with the bride.... 

Eve has no interest in Adam.... She wants another Eve....

Two Eves cannot produce the same way an Adam and an Eve can. 

The ability to fufill purpose is lost. 

The ability to be productive is lost. 

The ability to multiply is lost. 

When a man (woman, boy, or girl) worships something other than the one true God (Jesus)... 

The ability to fulfill purpose is lost. 

The ability to be productive is lost. 

The ability to multiply is lost. 

But thanks be to God that we can be forgivin of our idol worship... Our failure to be fruitful and multiply... Our rejection of the groom. 

There is still time to acknowledge that we are wrong, stop doing wrong, and ask for forgiveness. 

And God is faithful... If we confess our sins to Him... He'll forgive them. (1 John 1:9) 

We have got to pair up with who we are made for...

He completes us...

He fulfills us....

He loves us....

He forgives us.

Scripture of the day:

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. (Romans 1:21-27 NLT)

Challenge of the day:

It's not up to us to change ourselves. If we could do that, we wouldn't need a savior. 

Let us go to God admitting that we've done wrong... And that we want to change... Acknowledge that He is able and willing to change us and that we very much want His help. 

 

Don't Worry

Overwhelmed with work? Family? Friends? Relationships?

Do you sound like this?

If I can just pay this bill...

If I can just make it to the weekend... 

If I could just get a degree...

If I could just ____ ...

Things would be better. 

What are we trusting in?

Money?

Timing?

Societies standards?

Our planning?

If trusting in these things could support us, would we be overwhelmed/anxious/worried/unsure?

Why not trust in a sure thing?

Someone who understands...

Cares...

...actually has the power to fix things...

Jesus

Seek Him and His love. He'll take care of you!

Scripture of the day!!

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34 NLT)