Joy, Love, and Peace

January was Joy.

February was Love.

March will be Peace.

Philippians 4:7, "The peace of GOD that exceeds all (your) understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

 



The Greatest of These Is Love

I Corinthians 13:13, "Faith, Hope, and Love; but the greatest of these is love."
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Love comes very hard for many people. Yet Christ said to Love GOD with all your heart, soul, body, and mind; and the second was to love you neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, James 2:8, Galatians 5:14)
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Neighbor doesn't mean just those who live next door to you, but anyone you come into contact with... even your enemies! (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27) How we love others (not just people we know) shows how much we love ourselves. That self love is not selfish, but a healthy love.  
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II Timothy 1:7, "For GOD did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control." Love for ourselves  is self discipline, and self control. (I Thessalonians 5:8, II Timothy 3:3, Titus 2:2) This can't be done in the physical unless it has been done in the spiritual aspect of our lives first, by the very Nature of GOD giving us the power to love. His Love is a boundless love!

    


Spiritual Love verses Physically Love

John 21:15-18 Jesus questions Peter about his love for Him. Three times Christ asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter said yes and three times the LORD told him, "Feed my sheep." He wasn't talking about physical food, but spiritual food. Spiritual food is the WORD of GOD. Christ is spoken of as the Shepherd of His Church (John 10:14) and the Church is spoken of as lambs and sheep of Christ. Pastors are the shepherd of their churches. The Spiritual food of our LORD GOD is the love of His WORD that leads to salvation, how to live our lives, and how to share the love of GOD with others. Our love for GOD is in reading and studying His WORD, prayer, and sharing with others His Love, truth, and salvation. GODS's  Love is like a river!

 

Love Beyond Our Understanding

GOD's Love is pure. GOD's Love is everlasting.

GOD's Love was shown when He became a Man in Jesus Christ, taking our sin upon Him so we can have everlasting life with Him. Past, present, future sin has been paid for on the Cross. Each person has a choice to make; accept or reject His sacrifice for their sin. GOD's Love is so far beyond man's comprehension that we will spend eternity being in the presence of our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD learning of this Love that begins at salvation.

  



Jesus Loves Me!

 

"This I know, for the Bible tells me so!" His Holy Spirit in me also tells me so!

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John 14:23, "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will Love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him!' "

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Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of GOD who loved me and gave Himself for me."

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Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16; Christ spoke saying, "Suffer not the little children to come unto Me, for such is the Kingdom of GOD!"

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Christ also talked about suffering, "In this life you have many trials. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" John 16:33

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Christian friend, persevere this world, for in doing so "A crown of (eternal) life awaits you!" James 1:12



 

 

 

 

 

Deeply Rooted in GOD's Love

I am using Joyce Meyers study today from her book, "Power Thoughts Devotional, February 16, 'Healthy Roots Develop Healthy Fruit.' "

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Ephesians 3:17, "May Christ through your faith dwell in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love."

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"When you become a student of GOD's WORD, you begin to desire a change in your behavior. But so often, as soon as you deal with one bad behavior, another immediately pops up to replace it.  Why? Because bad fruit  comes from a bad root. For example, as long as we feel bad about ourselves, we will produce bad fruit of some kind. It might be anger, insecurity, fear, or indecision. But, it will show up in our behavior. We must deal with the root of the problem. No matter how good things look outwardly, if they are not right on the inside, sooner or later it will be revealed on the outside. Your worth and value are not based on outward things; they are based on GOD's Love for you. Receive His Love, learn to love and value yourself, and you will begin to produce better fruit in your life. The Power Thought: I am rooted and grounded in Christ!"



The Love of Friendship

 

 

 

I retired from teaching going on three years ago and the number of friends (and family) that were there had my heart in joy overdrive! Many of them I had taught with for over 23 years! I have brunch dates set each month with a special friend every month. I stood beside her as she married the man of her love!

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The English language only has one word for "love," however there are many different kinds of love. One kind of love is for friends and extended family. Another kind of love is husbands and their wives. But, the greatest kind of Love is God's Love for His redeemed! I pray your know personally this greatest Love of our Creator that lasts throughout all Eternity!