Love Letter!

" Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (I Corinthians 13:4-6NIV)

Yesterday, I mentioned the difference between love and lust and how God's love for us does not equate to the lust some feel for another. Today, I dedicate this poem to all who know love as God knows love and the love we have for another.

The perfect description (not definition)
Of love found in this scriptural rendition,
That many have over the years used
As their foundation, their muse
To write poems, letters and songs,
To remedy hurts and rectify wrongs.
If I've said it once, I'll say once more,
To understand God's grace, Those He adores,
There is no limit or boundary that will keep
Us from knowing or keep us from reaping
His best in our lives when we know
This letter, is not just for show.

God said it first and He said it best
Describing what Love is and all of the rest
Have just copied and mimicked The Word
In all the songs, poems, and rhymes,
This letter from Paul to the church at Corinth
Is never outdated, and good for all times,
For all seasons, weddings and such to be sent
To The Masses to show, love is who God is
To all who will receive and accept Love
That flows endlessly from heaven above
Giving us strength and power to withstand
The enemy's attack every hour on every man.
But we can take a little bit of time,
Celebrating love with our Valentines.

Enjoy this day of celebration of love--regardless of the origination, what some may think or not, it's always good to celebrate God's love and the overflow of love we have for one another.

Pulling Down Strong Holds in 2014!

“I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 2 Corinthians 10:2

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.2 Corinthians 10:3

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians10:4

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Father, in the name of Jesus,

We look to You, the author and finisher of our faith,

To help us to do all that You have said we could and would do in Your Word.

We ask You to look upon the hearts and minds of those in positions of authority and leadership everywhere—heads of state, politicians, law enforcement, military, pastors, church leaders, heads of families and everyone else—expose the true nature of each and every person so everyone can see.

We thank You for breaking the strong holds the enemy has on those who cloak themselves in deceptions and lies; exposing manipulative schemes devised by those who think that no one knows.

We thank You for having eyes that see in every place, beholding the good and evil and for pulling off the cloak of dark works that fester in the minds of those who are so easily fooled and influenced by Satan.

We thank You for allowing the scales of political correctness to fall from our eyes and minds so we see and know Truth for the sake of Truth and in following Him in all things.

We thank You for the remnant—those who refuse to buy into political correctness over Godly righteousness—and for their strength and courage that only You can provide to stand against the deeds of evil and praise You in the midst of the chaos.

We thank You for deliverance—from bitterness and desire to avenge the evil so thoughtlessly committed against us—for You have said that we cannot allow the evil to rule over the good that is within us and we will maintain the good in spite of the evil.

We thank You for speaking to hearts of parents everywhere—who have abandoned, abused, or neglected their children. We ask You to create in them a heart to want to do what is right for their children and for themselves.

We thank You for being God, our creator and for the fact that there is none like and nor will there be. There is no god, created by our hands that we would should worship or give any credence to being anything other than something made by the hands of man.

We look to You—more now than ever before—to break every chain that binds those who inflict evil and influence minds to perpetuate evil against others. We look to You to create situations in which men and women and children everywhere will know that they must develop the mind of Christ and live within the Word so the nations can be saved.

We look to You, O God—to position those who know You in places where they can, with courage—take a stand and become immoveable—in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray Your hand of protection over all who belong to You and for those You know will change their directions and come to You of their own accord. Keep all assigned angels alert and watchful so the enemy will not have opportunity to steal, kill or destroy the hopes of entire nations. Open our eyes that we might see the deceptions planned so we know how to fight against them. Open our hears so we can hear You when You speak—warning us of dangers and telling us what to say. Touch our bodies and heal them of all sickness and disease. Touch our minds cutting away any thoughts of disobedience or evil in the light of day so they cannot manifest themselves in darkness. Speak to the hearts of Your children of all ages and encourage them to know that wisdom is the principle thing and with all their getting—they need to have understanding—academically, economically, and spiritually.

In the new year, O God, we look for You to do a new thing—a new thing so great that will once and for all convince the unbelieving that You are God and You are God alone.

We proclaim every good thing that You have planned for us will be obtained in 2014 by all who obey Your Word and share the love of Jesus Christ with others. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen!

What Are We Judging?

"Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?" (I Corinthians 6:2 NIV)

In reading Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, we see him addressing the difference between the "worldly judges" and "God's people as judges" within the body of Christ. Of course there is a vast difference between the protocols of court systems then and now, but the gist of the matter is that Christians should not become embroiled in disputes so serious that they cannot be resolved within the body.  This is based upon the presumption that Christians will do no wrong and thereby have no need to be brought into court.

The presumption that Christians will do no wrong is certainly not true today and many infractions that occur in the church can only be handled as a legal matter with a worldly judge--in some instances, judges whose behavior demonstrate they do not know God.

Why are Christians involved in legal matters and being sent to jail? Worldliness--secularism--abject rejection of wanting to please God--has led to the down fall of many who proclaimed to be Christians.  Well-known leaders have fallen because of their notoriety; especially those who humiliated and condemned in public forums those who were caught up before them. Not soon after their public condemnation, they found themselves in the middle of similar types of trouble.  When we point fingers at people--knowing we're doing the same things--we can only look forward to the finger pointing that is bound to come our way.  "Don't judge a matter that will judge you in the same manner for the same thing" (paraphrased) Paul reminded the church in Rome.

So what matters are we to judge? If we continue in the same chapter with Paul, he tells us that we are to judge our angels, so we should certainly be able to judge trivial matters that arise in the church.  In another passage of scripture, we are told not to associate with a brother or sister-in-Christ who sins." In other words, we have a duty to bring acts that are in opposition to God to the forefront, but we are not to judge the person--that is God's role. We have neither heaven or hell to which to send people. When people oppose God, they will endure God's judgment, not man's (unless it is a legal matter concerning violation of man's laws).

What does this mean? We identify and call what is sin, "sin" and leave the worldly matters and the people to their own destruction.  "For the wages (payment due for sin) of sin, is death."

Lord, help us to understand You better and to serve You with gladness, with nothing but love in our hearts for You and others. Thank You for providing us with an advocate Who intercedes on our behalf when we fall short and come before You seeking forgiveness, after we have repented of anything that opposes You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!