God Is Love!

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. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. I John 4:8-14 NIV

Anyone who hates another human being--for any reason--cannot know God and certainly does not have God's love abiding within their hearts.

We do not have to like people or condone what they do--but when we hate--we allow all the forces and influence of Satan to reign and destroy--his job--to steal--our joy and peace, kill any hope we have for ourselves and others and to destroy the existence of mankind.

And this is how we know who belongs to God--by the love and compassion we show to others.

Perfect love--unconditional love--casts aside fear so where there is fear--there is no love and anyone promoting fear--has no love in them.

Where there is love--hope keeps marching forward--seeking peace and harmony among all of mankind.
  
               

He's Watching!

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3 KJV

God sees and He knows
We cannot hide our hearts
Our thoughts, our deeds;
Before we think them, He knows!

If We Love...

Why is there so much hatred

Just because skin tones vary

And faith reigns in the multiplicity

Of cultural, ethnic, and social beliefs?

Why can’t parents raise children

With respect and discipline, knowing

How to receive love and love in return?

Why is it that parents who claim to love,

Abuse and misuse the children they brought into this world?

How can they not see the damage and lifelong misery

They cause with their neglectful, hateful ways?

Why do we need guns to settle differences

When all we need is communication—listening and hearing,

To one another, accepting differing perceptions of life, wrong and right,

Rather than creating a mockery of justice by taking lives?

Why do we need to self-medicate on drugs of choice,

Instead of seeking assistance, allowing pain to be our voice

In the deserts of waste and want and desire to arise,

Above current situations, seeing what we could be in a different light.

Why do we allow corrupt politicians to legislate

Laws that do nothing to help forward movement, but

Do everything to hinder justice for all, igniting even more

Hatred—fueling frustrations, igniting detonators lying deep within

The hearts of those who refuse to bend to the Will of God?

If we love as God loves—why can’t we do as God does—

Love unconditionally without thought to race, religion or doubt,

Just ready to love and forgive the slights shown to us, by those

Who don’t know Him, but we do— and should not act as those who don’t.

If we love our parents, why can’t we care for them in their hour of need,

Just as they took care of us, until we could care for ourselves,

Or do we just look inwardly and think only of self, not caring for others,

Despising and distancing ourselves from fathers and mothers,

Who even if they were wrong—the parent-child relationship should remain strong.

If we love our neighbors as ourselves,

Why can’t we see their hurt and need and allow compassion

And kindness to reign in our hearts as we tend to their comfort,

Knowing, what we do for others will be done unto us.

If we love, why can’t we sit down and talk about differences

And those needs we have in common—shelter, clothing and food,

Joy, peace, happiness, more love and all things good,

That guarantee the continual perpetuation of humanity,

Without the continual perpetration of abuse and misuse?

If we love, why can’t we love ourselves enough to see,

Where we need to grow up and mature, behaving responsibly?

Looking deep inside, outside and all around us—noting changes

That require movement on our part to sustain us and those

We say we love.

If we love…

© 2015 Mary M. Hall-Rayford

Is It Too Late?

I am so tired of all the foolishness that exists in the hearts of people--politicians who cannot think beyond their bank accounts and their greed, preachers who are feeding their sheep garbage and then wonder why Christian growth is stunted, and those who refuse to think with the heads on their shoulders before making stupid decisions (and that includes all of us; especially parents).  I wonder if it's too late for us to make a 180 degree turn for the better.  Is God as tired of us as I am? Are you tired of the foolishness?

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You to hear those who have a relationship with You and know Your Word, how You want us to live.

Help us to see clearly how foolishness, selfishness, and greed hinder Your plans for all.

Help us to change our ways and conduct so You will manifest miracles in the lives of all who need one.

Help us O God, to stop acting rashly, with no regard for human life and alleviate the suffering of those around us.

Create in us a clean heart, with all of the filth of time, filtered out so that nothing remains that is not of You. Speak to the hearts of every person in leadership, right now, and let them know that You are still God and besides You, there is no other. Remind them of Your Word and how we are to protect the rights of the poor and the needy and that You, and You alone will judge us for what we do and don't do that is right in Your eyes.

And if it is not too late--help us to speak boldly in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, courageously speaking all You have said, without fear of the recriminations shown to us by others, willing to do all You have put on our hearts to do.

Help us to understand that having a religious affiliation does not mean we have a relationship with You. Help us today, to get our relationship with You right.

Is it too late for us to ask and expect a response from You that assures us, You have given us yet one more chance to get things right with You?

All this I ask and thank You for in the name of Your precious Son, Amen!