Good morning, dear friend! How are you? How was your weekend?? Did you enjoy your time with family and/or friends? I thought our sermon yesterday was fantastic, and have been looking forward to sharing it with you. :)
It was called "Love Secrets" - the pastor was wrapping up a month of love sermons - but I honestly felt like it should be called "LIFE Secrets"; the principles allpy to everyday relationships, not just to "significant others". :)
First, referencing I John 4:16 & John 15:12, HOW TO PUT LOVE FIRST TO MAKE LOVE LAST.
I John 4:16: And so 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.
John 15:12: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Pretty clear, right? :)
Second. WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE SO BECOMES SO. Ref: Proverbs 23:7: for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. I think this was the most unclear point reference for me! :)
Third - emphasis mine!:D - YOUR ATTITUDE IS CONTAGIOUS! Ref: Matthew 17:20: He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Pastor was using this about your marriage: believe that your marriage is good. Don't be looking outside, comparing to other people. Believe YOUR MARRIAGE is everything you need, and it will become so.
Fourth - again, emphasis mine! :D - Happiness is a CHOICE. He used Matthew 5:5-6 as a reference - the Beatitudes - but I don't think that HAPPINESS, per se, if a fruit of the Spirit, and I think it's a secular belief that we have to be HAPPY. I don't see that Scripturally ANYWHERE - and I have a hard time believing some of the Biblical characters we esteem were happy in their circumstances. But we can be BLESSED in any circumstance - because we are BLESSED AND HIGHLY-FAVORED BY GOD! :)
Fifth, THE LOVE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE, YOU LOSE. Ref: Acts 20:35: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
So. There are days when I don't make the choice to BE blessed and highly favored. This is something God's been speaking to me a lot lately; dear friend, YOU are blessed and highly favored! Dont' accept the LIE that Satan is trying to sell you, that you're not worthy and that no one cares.
We are, indeed, blessed. We ARE highly favored. We are daughters of the everlasting God, Who is all-powerful. God is LOVE.
We are loved.
Have a wonderful day! :) I can't wait to hear from you!
4 comments:
Lori, I didn't read your post yet (I'll read on my way out!) but I wanted to stop by and let you know that the Email that I sent to you regarding the Tuesday thing came back with an error message. I don't want you to think I ignored your request to email you. If you want to, try me again and we'll see what happens. Oh, and I besically share waht I experienced in church on my Sunday post. It took a part one and a part two to share it all. LLLOOOONNNNGGG post, so bring a snack if you read it!! Have a happy day - going to read your post now. Jen
Ahem, that would be basically. And what. Sheesh.
Tic Tac To three in a row! Had to come back and tell you how much I enjoyed every word of your post. I am going to CHOOSE to be happy today! Jennifer
I better hear from you soon or am I gonna have to come over there?
Nancy
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