Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Amen, Mark Lowenstein. http://marklowenstein.blogspot.com/
Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Roman 12:9-15
If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen?
1 John 4:20
But anyone who does not love does not know God – for God is love.
1 John 4:8
Live in such a way that God's love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you.
Jude 1:21
Prayer:
Dear precious Father,
Let my love be genuine for everyone in heaven and on earth. Help me hate what is evil at all times and everywhere. Help me focus onto what is good. May I rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation. Let me be constant in prayer. May I contribute to the needs of your holy people. Help me be very hospitable. Lord, help me to bless those who persecute me and help me to bless them, not to curse in return.
Jesus is Lord,
Amen
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Monday, February 14, 2005
God Is LOVE
Jesus said: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35
Question: If this is not how we are known, when will we start?
Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-11
Question: Is this how we love?
We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:16-21
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all the people ( mom, dad, wife Cindi, daughter Kayla, Fairfax Church of Christ brothers and sisters, Mark Lowenstein - deaf minister at Fairfax, Frederick Church of Christ brothers and sisters, Dirk Albrecht - deaf minister at Frederick, our Heavenly Father, and His only son Jesus) you have bless me with love. Thank you for the blessings you have provided me. They have blessed my life in so many ways, so I'm asking you now to bless their lives with your grace, power, and Spirit.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Question: If this is not how we are known, when will we start?
Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-11
Question: Is this how we love?
We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:16-21
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all the people ( mom, dad, wife Cindi, daughter Kayla, Fairfax Church of Christ brothers and sisters, Mark Lowenstein - deaf minister at Fairfax, Frederick Church of Christ brothers and sisters, Dirk Albrecht - deaf minister at Frederick, our Heavenly Father, and His only son Jesus) you have bless me with love. Thank you for the blessings you have provided me. They have blessed my life in so many ways, so I'm asking you now to bless their lives with your grace, power, and Spirit.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Ten Things To Do When You're In A Battle
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
Philo of Alexandria
The devil hates it when we worship the Lord!
I understand more about the weapons God has given us to fight, resist, and defeat the devil. The greatest weapons are God's Word, prayer, praise, and worship. The Word says to submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
God blesses us with His presence when we worship Him and in His presence we are kept safe.
God says to be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that the same suffering are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
One of the best examples of the power praising God when the enemy comes against us was when King Jephoshaphat found that there were enormous numbers of enemy soldiers gathered against him. He was afraid but he sought God and called his people to fast. He said to God, "In Your hand there is not power and might so that no one is able to withstand You?" 2 Chronicles 20:6
And the Lord spoke to Jephoshaphat one of the greatest promises of the Bible: "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for this battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who is with you. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:15-18
The battle is not ours, it is the Lord's!
Our eyes are on You, Lord!
1) Stop everything and worship God!
2) Praise Him for already defeating your enemy.
3) Thank Him for fighting the battle for you.
4) Ask God if there is anything He wants you to do that you are not doing.
5) Fast and pray.
6) Declare your dependence upon Him.
7) Recognize that the battle is not yours, but the Lord's.
8) Position yourself in the right place before God.
9) Refuse to have fear.
10) Quiet your soul in worship and watch God save you.
The Lord instructs us to put on the whole armor of God and having done all, to stand strong. Ephesians 6:13
Lord,
I praise You as my Deliverer and thank you that You will deliver me from my enemies. Thank you, Lord, that my enemies will fall and perish at Your presence ( Psalm 9:3 ). And when the battle is over, I will be able to say that this was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in my eyes. ( Psalm 118:23 )
Jesus is Lord,
Amen.
Philo of Alexandria
The devil hates it when we worship the Lord!
I understand more about the weapons God has given us to fight, resist, and defeat the devil. The greatest weapons are God's Word, prayer, praise, and worship. The Word says to submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
God blesses us with His presence when we worship Him and in His presence we are kept safe.
God says to be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that the same suffering are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
One of the best examples of the power praising God when the enemy comes against us was when King Jephoshaphat found that there were enormous numbers of enemy soldiers gathered against him. He was afraid but he sought God and called his people to fast. He said to God, "In Your hand there is not power and might so that no one is able to withstand You?" 2 Chronicles 20:6
And the Lord spoke to Jephoshaphat one of the greatest promises of the Bible: "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for this battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who is with you. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:15-18
The battle is not ours, it is the Lord's!
Our eyes are on You, Lord!
1) Stop everything and worship God!
2) Praise Him for already defeating your enemy.
3) Thank Him for fighting the battle for you.
4) Ask God if there is anything He wants you to do that you are not doing.
5) Fast and pray.
6) Declare your dependence upon Him.
7) Recognize that the battle is not yours, but the Lord's.
8) Position yourself in the right place before God.
9) Refuse to have fear.
10) Quiet your soul in worship and watch God save you.
The Lord instructs us to put on the whole armor of God and having done all, to stand strong. Ephesians 6:13
Lord,
I praise You as my Deliverer and thank you that You will deliver me from my enemies. Thank you, Lord, that my enemies will fall and perish at Your presence ( Psalm 9:3 ). And when the battle is over, I will be able to say that this was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in my eyes. ( Psalm 118:23 )
Jesus is Lord,
Amen.
Friday, February 04, 2005
JESUS Taught Us How To Pray
When Jesus taught us how to pray, He told us to first establish our relationship with God as our heavenly Father, and then praise and exalt His name. He said to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Luke 11:2
And He said, "When you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly". Matthew 6:6
As a child of God, we have privileges that other people don't have. We have become a large part of a large family. We have a special place to live for eternity. We receive many wonderful blessings and gifts. We have amazing inheritance. God says that the thoughts He thinks toward us are "of peace and not of evil" to give us "a future and a hope". Jeremiah 29:11
We love and acknowledge Him as our Father is living by His rules. One of His rules is that we honor Him with worship and praise. That is also the way we come to know Him better. The unconditional love of your heavenly Father is something you need never live without. Your heavenly Father is waiting to hear from you.
I praise and honor You as my Father God and give thanks always for all things, especially Your Father's love. Esphesians 5:20
And He said, "When you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly". Matthew 6:6
As a child of God, we have privileges that other people don't have. We have become a large part of a large family. We have a special place to live for eternity. We receive many wonderful blessings and gifts. We have amazing inheritance. God says that the thoughts He thinks toward us are "of peace and not of evil" to give us "a future and a hope". Jeremiah 29:11
We love and acknowledge Him as our Father is living by His rules. One of His rules is that we honor Him with worship and praise. That is also the way we come to know Him better. The unconditional love of your heavenly Father is something you need never live without. Your heavenly Father is waiting to hear from you.
I praise and honor You as my Father God and give thanks always for all things, especially Your Father's love. Esphesians 5:20
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