Welcome to Monday Morning Inspirational Blast titled WHERE THE LOVE IS. Ah…we focus on building RELATIONSHIPS with Christ. We say, “O LORD I love You, You’re the 1st in my life and I don’t know what I would do w/o You.” Well then, what about those brothers and sisters we have pushed out of the church. And act in ways like “Out of sight, out of mind” and/or we say, “Let the past, be the past.”
To tell the truth about WHERE THE LOVE IS begins with loving ourselves in healthy ways like caring for our body, soul and spirit. This includes healthy eating, positive thoughts and accepting Christ’s unmerited love for us despite our faults and needed improvements. Then as we continue feeding our spirit with the Bread of Life, Jesus-the Word, we learn how to love like God. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Love for the LORD and His power operating in our lives often times is a “Test of our faith during troublesome times, disappointments and disagreements. Not a test for God since He’s All-Knowingly. A portion of Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.” But God is delighted in “Real time” when He sees we have passed or overcame the test. Then testimonies of God to be our Present Help. Revealed through fasting and prayer. I got the break-through before end of 3 day fast/prayer. The 2nd fast again identified prayer scriptures and received break-through prior to praying. Nobody but God. Reminisce your experiences and break-throughs. God knows the sincerity and petitions of our hearts before we do. Thanks LORD for being the God of Break-through.
Thus our power to love more like Christ is demonstrated through the activation of loving more in our hearts; since the fruit of His Spirit to include love, long suffering-the ability to put up with people more through the Eyes of God, having compassion, peaceful spirit and gentleness. Again we can’t operate in the Fruit of the Spirit through our flesh, “Our feelings/emotions.” The ability to love more is empowered by Christ’s love for us including His Holy Spirit—His power—His Light—His Comfort—His Guidance and more. He has not left us as orphans, w/o a Father, a Heavenly Father that loves us.
Therefore we are equip through the activation of His LOVE and power of the Holy Spirit as “A way of life.” The evidence of WHERE THE LOVE IS in our interactions with the body of Christ, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and “People we can’t stand” is not something we can opt out of. Yes the LORD understands and will help us in our weakness.
WHERE THE LOVE IS flourishes more within self, the collective body of Christ, home and our daily lives because we are created in the image of God. Yet our difficulties to love are influence by our intelligence, free-will, array of emotions that often times we get caught-up “In our feelings” and weathering through life storms.
WHERE THE LOVE IS flourishes when we believe and live God’s Word.
IN CHRIST WE ARE NOT OF OUR OWN—IT’S ABOUT OUR CALLING
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
THE BODY OF CHRIST IN OPERATION
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call” (Ephesians 4:4).
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).
“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
HELP ME LORD WITH MY LOVE, SELF-CONTROL & TO FORGIVE
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:14).
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26).
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29).
“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 15:18).
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).
We thank You, LORD WHERE THE LOVE IS flourishing within ourselves, the body of Christ, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and among the “People we find difficult to stand.” Your love is prefect as we strive for love perfection-WHERE THE LOVE IS! As always peace, love and joy—Neatbooks4u.
