Podcasts about nlt love

May 3, 2025 Daily Devotion: “The Quality of Love: A Fruitful Christian Character" 2 Peter 1:7-9 New Living Translation 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in yourknowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. In 2 Peter Chapter 1, the apostle Peter encouraged the brethren to grow spiritually. God has provided everything we need to become like Him, but the responsibility is on us to yield ourselves to the process. Our calling as disciples includes selflessness and genuine love for one another. Loving each other is not optional but is a command as stated in John 13: 34-35 (NLT) “Love each other. Just as I haveloved you... Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Our love for each other is one of our identifying marks as a Christian, so a constant display of selfishness and unresolved feuds will confuse on lookers and at the same time our spiritual growth. One of the goalsof spiritual growth is to impact those who are yet to experience God's love through the way we love. It is no wonder God has a low opinion of the person who claims to love God who he cannot see, but hate his brother or sister who he can see. That person is called a liar. (1 John 4:20). Sometimes it is painful or does not make sense. Sometimes it feels unfair. Our innate desire for self-preservation coupled with our cultural belief that “one bad turn deserves another" dictates that we should be kind to those who are kind to us and retaliate against those who hurt us. One cannot deny that an unkind word or deed, especially undeserved, can cause pain, but this cannot be remedied with carnal reasoning. In Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) the apostle Paul admonishes, “Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” We may be at different points in our journey of spiritual growth but let us not compare ourselves with each other. Instead, let us use the mirror of God's Word to show us our weak points as we strive to love each other as He loves us.

THE ABC's OF CHRISTIANITY God Loves Me Babies die without love! Teenagers get their hearts wrecked because of it, and adults seek it and hunt for it all our lives. WHY IS GOD'S LOVE SO IMPORTANT? Because He Pursues Us with Love! “Toward the evening, they heard the Lord God walking about in the garden, so they hid themselves among the trees. The Lord God called to Adam, ‘Where are you?'” Genesis 3:8, 9 NLT “I knew you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Jonah 4:2 NLT “If you had a hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine and go search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders.” Luke 15: 4, 5 NLT Because It Includes More Than You Think Because of His love, God forgives more than we think God is a loving God, but also holy and just! We should be condemned because we are unholy Christ died to pay my penalty and satisfy God's justice “Jesus suffered the death penalty for us. In so doing, He expressed the LOVE of God, He upheld the HOLINESS of God and He satisfied the JUSTICE of God.” God's forgiveness is real. He gives it as an expression of His love “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NLT “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though some might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 NLT Because He Keeps On Loving Us With That Love “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken…says the Lord who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 NLT “Love never gives up…love will last forever” Corinthians 13: 7, 8 NLT Because He went to extraordinary lengths to prove it “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

What is the world's definition of beauty? How often have we squeezed, strived, and starved ourselves in order to meet its impossible standards, only to feel we're never enough? Today's podcast is Part 1 of a two-part series on Dreaming with God, where Stasi shares God's invitation to see ourselves through His eyes—to trade striving for rest, shame for grace, and the enemy's lies for God's Truth. God not only calls us beautiful (SoS 1:15), but He also invites us to walk in union with Him, partnering with Him in the joy of becoming who He has created us to be and offering what He has uniquely planted in our hearts.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Song of Songs 4:1 (NLT) – You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves …2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) – So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.John 15:5 (NLT) – Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV) – The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.Matthew 22:39 (NLT) – … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'…..RESOURCESBecoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You by Stasi Eldredge  ⁠https://amzn.to/4gYrsZy⁠Quote: “Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.” Happy Birthday to You! By Dr. Seuss  ⁠https://amzn.to/4ihqNn0⁠…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: ⁠https://wahe.art/4jFlAXu⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://spoti.fi/42SsOip⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Google Podcasts – ⁠http://wahe.art/3M81kxL⁠Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ⁠

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. One of the things we love about God's love is hearing how much He loves us, will forgive us, and show us incredible mercy and grace, no matter what we do. But then the very tough thing about God's love is, as sinners, we struggle when He tells us to love others that we do not want to love. Teaching our kids that kind of unconditional love will be one of the hardest things we ever do—to encourage them to follow God in loving someone with His love and grace that we do not want to love and don't think we even can love.Much of Jesus' teaching was counter-cultural then, and it certainly is today. The religious leaders of His day wanted to separate people into two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. And those men would make that determination without God. In fact, Jesus' teaching against their standards ended up getting Him on their unacceptable list. Listen closely to this passage as I read. No matter how many times you may have heard it, try and listen with fresh ears about how God wants us to love …“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:27-36 NLT)Love your enemies? … That's a cute catchphrase until you actually feel like someone is your enemy and is working to make your life miserable. Loving that person feels impossible. Do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you? Really, Jesus? But what is so great about Jesus' teaching here is He told us why He wants us to do that.In short, Jesus said… “if people who have no God, who don't believe in God, who care nothing about Me, can be kind to those who are kind to them and love those who love them, then you don't need Me to do that, do you? But now, loving your enemies? Doing good to those who hate you? You are most definitely going to need Me to help you do that. Why? Because by yourself, you can't!”Now, to be clear, turning the other cheek does not have anything to do with abuse or letting someone run all over you. Remember—Jesus was the guy who got angry and cleared people out of the temple with a whip. But to love like God and to teach your kids to love like He does, that's going to take Jesus giving you the power and ability every time.Let's say it this way, if we're going to call ourselves His kids, we need to act like He's our Dad.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, this loving my enemies thing is so hard. Doing good to someone I deem as bad, blessing people I can't stand, that feels impossible. But you are the God that makes the impossible possible. Help me, Jesus, to love like You and to teach my kids these really hard things about how to love like You. Because me and my kids are Your children. As above, so below.”

IDENTITY - Your IDENTITY is in CHRIST! This is WHO you are. This does not CHANGE. 2 Corinthians 5:17  GNT Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. CALLING - what you're DESIGNED to do BEST! - Your DESIGN reveals your DESTINY. Colossians 3:23 NLT Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ASSIGNMENT – Where you LIVE OUT your CALLING! 1 Corinthians 7:17a MSG And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there… 1 Corinthians 7:17 NLT, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him” God is sovereign.”  Every assignment is an OPPORTUNITY for you to GROW. Romans 8:28-30 GNT 28 We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. 29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers. 30 And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them. Matthew 22:36-40 NLT “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” The closer you get to JESUS, the clearer your PURPOSE will be.

”There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.“ ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Love is kind and patient let us behave like Jesus, instead of condemning and judging sinners, let us welcome them and teach them the way of the Lord. If you love somebody, you go extra miles stay focus and remain positive!!!

Thank you for tuning in! “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ In this episode we read where Paul is addressing the people of His day about respecting authority and those who are in authority, it shows when we respect authority we honor God. Laws are not meant to restrict us from our liberties and freedoms or rights but they are put in place to govern us. God wants us also to show respect to those who serve it is very important. “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Love is the ultimate respect for one another, if we show love for one another we show that we love God who loves us. Thank you for listening please subscribe and share, God Bless! https://cash.app/$blknerd50 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blknerd-50/message

Greetings, Leaders. What would you say is the most significant attribute of a leader?When you list your five top attributes, does love appear on the list?When I discovered God's love, it changed everything in my life and career. What an empowering revelation to know that God loves you unconditionally and eternally! "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3 My discovery changed my relationships, my service to others, and my engagements with clients, colleagues, family, and friends, and everyone was affected positively. I wondered what caused this dynamic change in me and us. How could a shy, introverted, insecure, angry, bitter and fearful person with low self-esteem be transformed? What if all the things I had believed about myself were lies like shackles were holding me captive?  When I experienced love, God ignited my true identity within me! For the first time in over thirty years, I began to see myself the way God sees me—Identity Matters! The outcome was discovering the truth, and my shackles fell way, liberating me to soar like an eagle! "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 NLT Love. Love never fails. What does love in action look like in a leader?If a leader's actions do not reflect the love of God, they will have no power and certainly not last. Who is the source of love? God is love. What are the manifestations of love? Here is an insight on the most empowering attribute. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 Love never fails. The key is this: God is love. Love drives out fear from us. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Consider and reflect on the qualities and outcomes of love.Ask God to reveal His love to you. Picture, ponder, and personalize experiencing His love for you. Love changes everything and is the most significant attribute anyone can possess. "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT   "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.' 31 The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." Jesus Mark 12: 30-31 My friends, I pray that love abounds and overflows into everything you do and experience in life and your career. "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16  Remember, love never fails! Victory!   

Becoming BeYOUtiful You, Part 8 - Faithfulness “…when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT FAITHFULNES IS… Love that hangs on “It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, and your faithfulness in the evening.” Psalm 92:2 NLT “Love and faithfulness meet together” Psalm 85:10 “God is…abounding in love and faithfulness” Psalm 86:15 Psalms 89:2, 89:14, 89:24, 89:33, 89:49, 92:2, 98:3 “Let love and faithfulness never leave you.” Proverbs 3:3 Reliability “Let love and faithfulness never leave you” Proverbs 3:3 NIV “The Lord is faithful to all His promises…” Psalm 145:13 NIV “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the FAITHFUL God, keeping His covenant to a thousand generations…” Deuteronomy 7:9 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Cor. 10:13 NIV “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” John 3:16, 17 NLT “…if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 John 1:9 NLT “O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord? Faithfulness is your very character.” Psalm 89:8 NLT “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4 BECOMING FAITHFUL… Be Faithful in SMALL THINGS Matthew 25: 14-23 NLT GOD WILL TEST ME JUST ABOVE THE LEVEL I'M AT, IN ORDER TO STRETCH ME The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Stay Faithful to Jesus Christ

February 25 2024 Sunday A Study In Romans Week 18 / T. Stacy Hayes #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word.  That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. This In Him Scripture Study Started On June 21 2021 Go Back And Listen From The Beginning…  The Study In Romans Started on March 30 2022 Go Back And Listen To This Study From The Beginning… Isaiah 53:5  Healing… Matthew 18:19  Agree with God's Word… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Acts 10:34  God is no respecter of persons… ”For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.“ Romans 12:3 KJV “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Romans 12:3 NLT “For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.” Romans 12:3 AMPC ”Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.“ Romans 13:8 KJV “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.” Romans 13:8 NLT “Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].” Romans 13:8 AMPC ”For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“ Romans 13:9 KJV “For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”” Romans 13:9 NLT “The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Exod. 20:13-17; Lev. 19:18.]” Romans 13:9 AMPC ”Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“ Romans 13:10 KJV “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.” Romans 13:10 NLT “Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.” Romans 13:10 AMPC ”And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.“ Romans 13:11 KJV “This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 NLT “Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).” Romans 13:11 AMPC Romans 10:9-10  Salvation… Romans 10:17  Faith in God comes from hearing His Word… Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus'Yoke is Easy… John 3:16  God gave Jesus to pay for our Salvation… God Loves The abortion dr As Much As He Loves The Babies They Are Killing… Philippians 12:2  Work out your own Salvation… Romans 8:1  No condemnation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior…  Luke Chapter 15 The Story Of The Prodigal Son… Philippians 4:19  God will supply all your needs let Him… Romans 4:20  Don't Stagger at What God Is Saying In His Word… John 15:5 We can't do anything aside from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:17  We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21  We are The Righteousness of God In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Ephesians 2:8  We are Saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Believe God's Word Above All Opinions God Loves The abortion dr's As Much As He Loves The Babies They Are Killing… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media… Website https://the-prodigalson.com Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com  YouVersion Bible App https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 …  Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical  Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured                    

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. One of the things we love about God's love is hearing how much He loves us, will forgive us, and show us incredible mercy and grace, no matter what we do. But then the very tough thing about God's love is, as sinners, we struggle when He tells us to love others that we do not want to love. Teaching our kids that kind of unconditional love will be one of the hardest things we ever do—to encourage them to follow God in loving someone with His love and grace that we do not want to love and don't think we even can love. Much of Jesus' teaching was counter-cultural then, and it certainly is today. The religious leaders of His day wanted to separate people into two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. And those men would make that determination without God. In fact, Jesus' teaching against their standards ended up getting Him on their unacceptable list. Listen closely to this passage as I read. No matter how many times you may have heard it, try and listen with fresh ears about how God wants us to love … “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:27-36 NLT) Love your enemies? … That's a cute catchphrase until you actually feel like someone is your enemy and is working to make your life miserable. Loving that person feels impossible. Do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you? Really, Jesus? But what is so great about Jesus' teaching here is He told us why He wants us to do that. In short, Jesus said… “if people who have no God, who don't believe in God, who care nothing about Me, can be kind to those who are kind to them and love those who love them, then you don't need Me to do that, do you? But now, loving your enemies? Doing good to those who hate you? You are most definitely going to need Me to help you do that. Why? Because by yourself, you can't!” Now, to be clear, turning the other cheek does not have anything to do with abuse or letting someone run all over you. Remember—Jesus was the guy who got angry and cleared people out of the temple with a whip. But to love like God and to teach your kids to love like He does, that's going to take Jesus giving you the power and ability every time. Let's say it this way, if we're going to call ourselves His kids, we need to act like He's our Dad. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, this loving my enemies thing is so hard. Doing good to someone I deem as bad, blessing people I can't stand, that feels impossible. But you are the God that makes the impossible possible. Help me, Jesus, to love like You and to teach my kids these really hard things about how to love like You. Because me and my kids are Your children. As above, so below.”

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Romans 12:9-17 NIV   I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT   BOTH GIFTINGS AND GODLY CHARACTER MUST BE PRESENT FOR TRUE EFFECTIVENESS.   'You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NLT   So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35 NLT   Love must be sincere. Romans 12:9 NIV Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Romans 12:9 NLT   “ Be tolerate with others and strict with yourself.” Marcus Aurelius   Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.Romans 12:9 NIV   You who love the Lord, hate evil! Psalms 97:10 NLT   Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.  Amos 5:15 NLT   hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV   'If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19 ESV   'Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”John 18:36 ESV   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 ESV   1. It is not enough to simply choose Good over Evil.   2. You will eventually drift toward your desires and feelings.   O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4 ESV     So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Colossians 3:5NLT   Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. Colossians 3:5-6 NLT   You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Colossians 3:7-9 NLT   Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves… Colossians 3:12 NLT   you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 NLT   Mercy/Compassion   Kindness   Humility   Gentleness   Patience   Forgiveness   Love  

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT   SPIRITUALLY OUR HEARTS REVEAL THE HEALTH OF OUR LIVES.   Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT   The lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT   FOUR BLOCKAGES OF THE HEART   1. SELFISHNESS   Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23 NLT   BLOCKAGE CAN OCCUR WHEN WE WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OURSELVES RATHER THAN WHAT IS BEST FOR GOD!   He (JESUS) chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25 NLT   But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:14-16 NIV   2. BITTERNESS   It is impossible that no offenses should come… Luke 17:1 NKJV   A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. Proverbs 18:19 NIV   3. REJECTION   The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21 NLT   4. EVIL THOUGHTS   For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” Mark 7:21-23 NLT   THE HEART GOD DESIRES FOR US A Heart for HIM   For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NLT   As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.” 1 Corinthians 14:25 NLT A Heart for others 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. 1 John 4:8-9 NLT It is easy to justify not loving others God's love is for everyone God's love is made visible through action This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 NLT Love is not love unless it is felt and seen   ACTION STEPS And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHOW ME   Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24 NLT   INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE ME   Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 NLT INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL ME   Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

Episode Summary:  Do you have grown up or adult children? Have you felt that parenting adult children offers different opportunities and challenges than parenting young children? What about the challenges of parenting wayward adult children or parenting adult children even when they choose a different path than you would have chosen for them? Join me with my guest, Mary DeMuth, for an encouraging episode on Parenting Adult Children Even When They Choose a Different Path. Quotables from the episode: Part of the reason parenting adult children is so hard is because we haven't been given good examples of parenting adult children. Make your conversations with your adult children rooted in curiosity to find a common ground without compromising your theology. When our adult children choose a different path than we would choose for them, we can either blame God or run to God. Shared grief with other parents who understand lessens our grief. God is a perfect parent who had the first rebellious adult children. God understands. He has empathy. He had adult wayward kids, too. I often go back to the book's structure which is based on 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul unpacks what love is. Studying that has helped me truly connect with and love my adult kids. The enemy has victory when we have wayward children, so we have to determine that he will not have victory over us as well. You can still love your adult child but have a different opinion. Remember, someone else's choices are not your fault. Prayer is a relationship and oxygen for our lives. If you're struggling with a wayward adult kid, talk it through with a safe person.   Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 NLT Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.    Recommended Resources:  Love, Pray, Listen: Parenting Your Wayward Adult Kids with Joy by Mary DeMuth   Resources on Parenting Can the Trajectory We Want for Our Children be Sabotaged? How to Raise Our Children to Have a Strong Foundation in Jesus Trusting Our Children to the Father's Care How to Reinvent Yourself After the Empty Nest  Moms Raising Sons to be Men by Rhonda Stoppe Empty Nest, Full Life by Jill Savage Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be Another Good Day Breaking Anxiety's Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety's Grip Free Study Guide Free 7-Day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety's Grip Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor's Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader's Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader's Choice Award Trusting God Through Cancer 1 Trusting God Through Cancer 2 Revive & Thrive Women's Conference Subdue Stress and Anxiety: Fifteen Experts Offer Comprehensive Tools in Ten Minutes a Day. Use my link plus discount code BENG99 to save $90 on course (course will be $99.) Free Download: How To Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win   Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Mary DeMuth: Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Podcast For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Breaking Anxiety's Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube Guest: Mary DeMuth is an international speaker, a podcaster, and the author of over forty books, fiction and nonfiction, including The Day I Met Jesus. Through God's healing, Mary has overcome a difficult past to become an authentic example of what it means to live a brand-new story. She loves to help others “re-story” their lives through the books she writes. Mary lives in Texas with her husband of 30 years and is Mom to three adult children. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson

This week Pastor Travis bring us a message called Serving Our City.Jeremiah 7:1-7 (NKJV)7 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 “Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord!' ” 3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in these lying words, saying, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.'5 “For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute [a]judgment between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, 7 then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.Read Jeremiah 22:2-5 (NKJV)God cares about people. Help those who have been robbed.God wants you to help rescue people from oppressors. Don't mistreat foreigners .Don't mistreat orphans or widows.Read Matthew 5:38-48 (NLT)Love your enemies

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. One of the things we love about God's love is hearing how much He loves us, will forgive us, and show us incredible mercy and grace, no matter what we do. But then the very tough thing about God's love is, as sinners, we struggle when He tells us to love others that we do not want to love. Teaching our kids that kind of unconditional love will be one of the hardest things we ever do—to encourage them to follow God in loving someone with His love and grace that we do not want to love and don't think we even can love. Much of Jesus' teaching was counter-cultural then, and it certainly is today. The religious leaders of His day wanted to separate people into two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. And those men would make that determination without God. In fact, Jesus' teaching against their standards ended up getting Him on their unacceptable list. Listen closely to this passage as I read. No matter how many times you may have heard it, try and listen with fresh ears about how God wants us to love … “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:27-36 NLT) Love your enemies? … That's a cute catchphrase until you actually feel like someone is your enemy and is working to make your life miserable. Loving that person feels impossible. Do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you? Really, Jesus? But what is so great about Jesus' teaching here is He told us why He wants us to do that. In short, Jesus said… “if people who have no God, who don't believe in God, who care nothing about Me, can be kind to those who are kind to them and love those who love them, then you don't need Me to do that, do you? But now, loving your enemies? Doing good to those who hate you? You are most definitely going to need Me to help you do that. Why? Because by yourself, you can't!” Now, to be clear, turning the other cheek does not have anything to do with abuse or letting someone run all over you. Remember—Jesus was the guy who got angry and cleared people out of the temple with a whip. But to love like God and to teach your kids to love like He does, that's going to take Jesus giving you the power and ability every time. Let's say it this way, if we're going to call ourselves His kids, we need to act like He's our Dad. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, this loving my enemies thing is so hard. Doing good to someone I deem as bad, blessing people I can't stand, that feels impossible. But you are the God that makes the impossible possible. Help me, Jesus, to love like You and to teach my kids these really hard things about how to love like You. Because me and my kids are Your children. As above, so below.”

INFLUENCE   “In the same way, let your light shine before others…” Matthew 5:16 NIV     Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something…   “…so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16 TPT   You have influence   “If your life in any way connects with other people, you are an influencer.” – John Maxwell   On average, most people will influence around 10,000 others in an average lifetime   Your influence matters   What type of power are you giving your influence?   Positive and Negative   Positive Influence: the impact of a person, group or situation that motivates, encourages, or inspires others to make positive changes or decisions in their lives. It can lead to the growth, development and the well-being of individuals and communities   Negative Influence: the impact of a person, group or situation that encourages or leads others to make harmful or undesirable decisions or actions in their lives. It can result in harm, discouragement, and/or deterioration of individuals and communities   Love   “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal “1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT   “Love is patient and kind, Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT   An Influencer is patient and kind An Influencer is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude An Influencer does not demand their own way An Influencer is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged An Influencer does not rejoice about injustice An Influencer rejoices whenever the truth wins out An Influencer never gives up and never loses faith An Influencer is always hopeful An Influencer endures through every circumstance   The Character of a Positive Influencer   “Now, the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “did God really say, ‘you must not eat from any tree in the garden?'” The woman said to the serpent, “we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘you must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it or you will die.”   “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the women. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it…” Genesis 3:1-6 NLT   HOW TO NOT BE A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE   1.     Remind Ourselves of Who We Are   “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT   Who You Are Determines What You Do   2.     Speak Positively About People and Circumstances   “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV   “With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My Friends, this cant go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? Youre not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? James 3:10-12 MSG   3.     Have integrity with People   Commit Yourself to honesty, reliability, and confidentiality   Exemplify Humility   “Your boast becomes a prophecy of a future failure. The higher you lift up yourself in pride, the harder you'll fall in disgrace.” Proverbs 16:18 TPT   Major in the Minor things   4.     Keep the main thing the main thing   “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations” Matthew 28:19 NLT   HOW TO NOT BE NEGATIVELY INFLUENCED BY OTHERS 1.     Inspect Your Environments   Is this helping or hurting me walk in my God given calling?   There are environments that we can put ourselves into that are not conducive to the growth that God desires us to have in our lives   “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” Proverbs 13:20 MSG   “….Bad Company corrupts good character” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV 2.     Make a Plan to Change and Change   “your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn 3.     Make the change despite criticism   “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” – Aristotle   “I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins” Hebrews 8:12 CSB

(Bilingual) このメッセージではモンティー牧師が神様がどのように私たちの人間関係を良くしてくれるのかについて以下の３つのポイントから話します。In this message Ps Monty talks about how God makes your relationships better in these 3 points:(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud (5) or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (6) It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. (7) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.(1コリント 13:4-7 JCB) 愛は寛容であり、親切です。愛は決してねたみません。また、決して自慢せず、高慢になりません。 (5) 決して思い上がらず、自分の利益を求めず、無礼なふるまいをしません。愛は自分のやり方を押し通そうとはしません。また、いら立たず、腹を立てません。人に恨みをいだかず、人から悪いことをされても気にとめません。 (6) 決して不正を喜ばず、いつも真理を喜びます。 (7) 愛は、どんな犠牲をはらっても誠実を尽くし、すべてを信じ、最善を期待し、すべてを耐え忍びます。(Matthew 1:18-19 NLT) This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. (19) Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.(マタイ 1:18-19 JCB) イエス・キリストの誕生は次のとおりです。母マリヤはヨセフと婚約していました。ところが結婚する前に、聖霊によってみごもったのです。 (19) 婚約者のヨセフは、神の教えを堅く守る人でしたから、婚約を破棄しようと決心しました。しかし、人前にマリヤの恥をさらしたくなかったので、ひそかに縁を切ることにしました。(Matthew 1:20-21 NLT) As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. (21) And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”(マタイ 1:20-21 JCB) ヨセフがこのことで悩んでいた時、天使が夢に現れて言いました。「ダビデの子孫ヨセフよ。ためらわないで、マリヤと結婚しなさい。マリヤは聖霊によってみごもったのです。 (21) 彼女は男の子を産みます。その子をイエス（「主は救い」の意）と名づけなさい。この方こそ、ご自分を信じる人々を罪から救ってくださるからです。(Matthew 1:24-25 NLT) When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. (25) But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.(マタイ 1:24-25 JCB) 目が覚めるとヨセフは、天使の命じたとおり、マリヤと結婚しました。 (25) しかし、その子が生まれるまでは、マリヤに触れませんでした。そして、生まれた子をイエスと名づけました。How can God make my relationships better?どのように神様は私の人間関係を良くしてくれるの？1) Listen to God's Word神様のことばに耳を傾ける2) Act on God's Word神様のことばに従って行動する3) Keep God at the Center of Your Relationships人間関係の中心に神様を置き続ける(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. (10) If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (11) Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? (12) A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.(伝道者 4:9-12 JCB) 二人が手を組めば、一人の人の倍以上のことができます。結果から見れば、二人のほうがずっといいのです。 (10) 二人なら片方が倒れても、もう一方が起こせます。ところが、一人のときに倒れてしまうと、だれにも起こしてもらえず、何とも惨めです。(11) また、寒い夜、二人が一枚の毛布でもかぶって寝れば、お互いの体温で暖かくなります。しかし一人では、どうにも暖まることができません。 (12) 一人では、攻撃を受けると負けてしまいます。しかし二人なら、背中合わせになって戦うことができ、相手に勝つことができます。三人なら、なおいいのです。三つ撚りの糸は、めったなことでは切れないからです。質問（Question Suggestions）:How did God guide Joseph and Mary?How has journaling guided you in your relationships? What area of your relationship are you asking for God's wisdom in? Do you find it easy to listen to godly wisdom or do you find worldly wisdom distracting or confusing?What is a scripture that has encouraged you to have healthy relationships (with family, friends, single or...

(Bilingual) このメッセージでは太助牧師が平和を作り出す人について以下の2つのポイントから話します。 In this message Ps Tasuke talks about peacemakers in these 2 points: (マタイ5:9 JCB) 平和をつくり出す人は幸いです。そういう人は神の子どもと呼ばれるからです。 (Matthew 5:9 NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God. (ルカ6:27-28 JCB) いいですか、よく聞きなさい。あなたの敵を愛しなさい。あなたを憎む者によくしてあげなさい。(28) あなたをのろう者を祝福しなさい。あなたを侮辱する者に神の祝福を祈り求めなさい。 (Luke 6:27-28 NLT) “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.(28)Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (ルカ6:32-33 JCB) 自分を愛してくれる人だけを愛したところで、ほめられたことでも何でもありません。神を知らない人でさえ、それぐらいのことはします。(33) よくしてくれる人にだけよくしたところで、何の意味があるのでしょう。罪人でさえ、それぐらいのことはします。 (Luke 6:32-33 NLT) “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! (33) And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! (ルカ6:35-36 JCB) 自分の敵を愛しなさい。彼らによくしてやり、返してもらうことなど当てにせずに貸してあげなさい。そうすれば、天からすばらしい報いがあり、あなたがたは神の子どもになれるのです。神は、恩知らずの者や極悪人にも、あわれみ深い方だからです。(36) あなたがたも、天の父のように、あわれみ深い者になりなさい。 (Luke 6:35-36 NLT) “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.(36) You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. 1.平和をつくり出す人は受け身ではなく、積極的である。 Peacemakers are Not Passive, but Active 2.イエスこそ、平和をつくり出す存在 Jesus is the Peacemaker (ローマ5:10-11 JCB) 私たちが神の敵であった時でさえ、ひとり子の死によって、神のもとに連れ戻されたくらいですから、私たちが神の友となり、神が私たちのうちに生きておられる今は、どんなにかすばらしい祝福が備えられていることでしょう。(11) 私たちは、神との驚くべき新しい関係を心から喜んでいます。それはただ、主イエス・キリストが私たちの罪のために死んで成し遂げてくださったこと、すなわち、私たちを神の友としてくださったことのおかげなのです。 (Romans 5:10-11 NLT) For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. (11) So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Do good people go to heaven? What are the qualifications? Do I meet the standard? These are some of the questions that Alexis & Katie tackle on this episode. Hope you enjoy! “Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” Hebrews 9:14 NLT

At The MoviesPart 1: Qualities of a Healthy RelationshipGood relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.Three Qualities of Healthy Relationships1. Enduring Love1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) – Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) – Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.2. Effective CommunicationEphesians 4:29 (NLT) – Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.3. Enriching ExperiencesExperiences enrich the relationship, and the relationship enriches the experience.Relationships – Experiences = LifelessnessExperiences – Relationships = LonelinessProverbs 27:17 (NLT) – As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) – Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.“Time is measured in minutes; life is measured in moments.”—Mark Batterson

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. One of the things we love about God’s love is hearing how much He loves us, will forgive us, and show us incredible mercy and grace, no matter what we do. But then the very tough thing about God’s love is, as sinners, we struggle when He tells us to love others that we do not want to love. Teaching our kids that kind of unconditional love will be one of the hardest things we ever do—to encourage them to follow God in loving someone with His love and grace that we do not want to love and don’t think we even can love. Much of Jesus’ teaching was counter-cultural then, and it certainly is today. The religious leaders of His day wanted to separate people into two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. And those men would make that determination without God. In fact, Jesus’ teaching against their standards ended up getting Him on their unacceptable list. Listen closely to this passage as I read. No matter how many times you may have heard it, try and listen with fresh ears about how God wants us to love … “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:27-36 NLT) Love your enemies? … That’s a cute catchphrase until you actually feel like someone is your enemy and is working to make your life miserable. Loving that person feels impossible. Do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you? Really, Jesus? But what is so great about Jesus’ teaching here is He told us why He wants us to do that. In short, Jesus said… “if people who have no God, who don’t believe in God, who care nothing about Me, can be kind to those who are kind to them and love those who love them, then you don’t need Me to do that, do you? But now, loving your enemies? Doing good to those who hate you? You are most definitely going to need Me to help you do that. Why? Because by yourself, you can’t!” Now, to be clear, turning the other cheek does not have anything to do with abuse or letting someone run all over you. Remember—Jesus was the guy who got angry and cleared people out of the temple with a whip. But to love like God and to teach your kids to love like He does, that’s going to take Jesus giving you the power and ability every time. Let’s say it this way, if we’re going to call ourselves His kids, we need to act like He’s our Dad. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, this loving my enemies thing is so hard. Doing good to someone I deem as bad, blessing people I can’t stand, that feels impossible. But you are the God that makes the impossible possible. Help me, Jesus, to love like You and to teach my kids these really hard things about how to love like You. Because me and my kids are Your children. As above, so below.”

The hardest step is getting started, it’s taking a chance on yourself and trusting that no matter what lies on the journey ahead it’ll lead to greatness. Sometimes you just need that push so you can fall into good destiny. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Love, A xox

In this message, we debunked this myth: ‘Self Love Is the Best Love.’ Narcissism has its birth origins in ‘self-love’. In the scriptures, we are told that love is not self-seeking. We are also told that to follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves and follow Him. Reference Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT — Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT — You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 1 John 4:7-12 NLT — Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thealphatalk/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thealphatalk/support

Message by Pastor Andy Rosas Love is not rude. So... be TACTFUL, not just TRUTHFUL. Proverbs 18:13 (MSG) Ephesians 4:31-32 (CEV) Proverbs 16:21 (GNT) Love does not demand its own way. So... be UNDERSTANDING, not DEMANDING. Titus 3:2 (GW) Luke 6:31 (NIV) Love is not irritable. So... be GENTLE, not JUDGMENTAL. Galatians 6:1 (NCV) Ecclesiastes 10:4 (NLT) Love keeps no record of wrongs. So... DON'T REPEAT IT, DELETE IT! Mark 11:25 (AMPC) Proverbs 10:12 (GNT) Proverbs 19:11 (GNT) Job 18:4 (GNT)

Who defines what love looks like for you? Your parents, other couples, Hollywood? In this session let's look to the Creator of Love and see what He says love looks like. It doesn't look like Hollywood, life doesn't live like that. What does love act like? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT — Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT — Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 NKJV — Love never fails. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

1CHRONICLES 8:Hang on! We’re almost through with the names chapters! PROVERBS 17a:I must say that it is hard to choose just one verse to highlight in today’s reading: Pro. 17:9 NLT Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,but dwelling on it separates close friends. Re-reading EPHESIANS 6:I like the way our translation of the spiritual armor portion of this chapter helps the reader understand how the various parts of the armor are actually applied or ‘picked up’ and ‘worn’. So in the podcast for today I read verses 10-17 in an English translation of our plain Indonesian translation. PET: 10 As final instructions, you should each become strong because you keep on hoping completely in the Lord's amazing power, and also because you have become one with Him. 11 Just like a soldier wears his equipment for war, you must wear all the battle equipment that God gives us. In that way you can reject the devil's lies. 12 For we aren't fighting against people on this earth. But we fight against evil spirits and all the powers who rule those evil spirits. They're the ones who now control this dark world from the sky above. 13 That's why you need to use all the tools of war given by God, so that when the enemy comes to attack you, you won't run, but can oppose him and keep enduring until the war is over. 14 So stand firm. Hold on to the true teaching from God, because true teaching is like a belt that makes you ready to act. Live a righteous life, because a righteous life is like a metal vest that will protect you from the enemy's attacks. 15 And keep holding on to the Good News about Christ. That news helps you to feel calm in the protection of God. Continually hold on to that news, just like a soldier always wears strong boots, so that you stand firm in war. 16 Besides that, keep believing in the Lord. For your [fully believing/faith] is like a shield that protects you from all of the flaming arrows that the devil shoots at us. 17 Keep on being certain that God has saved you, because that is like your war helmet. And hold onto all of God's words like holding a sword, because His words have the power of the Holy Spirit. GNT Translation notes:Eph. 6:1 Children, it is your [duty as the Lord’s followers//Christian duty] to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. [The command,]4 Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them [bitter//angry]. Instead, raise them with [the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord//Christian discipline and instruction].16 At all times carry [belief in Christ//faith] as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.23 [Dear brothers and sisters, my prayer is that//May] God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give [you peace, love and full belief//to all Christians peace and love with faith].  NLT Translation notes:Eph. 6:10 A[s my] final word: [PET: each one of you, be strong because you keep on hoping completely in the Lord's amazing power, and also because you are joined as one with Him.//NLT Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.]21-22 [PET: Our beloved brother, Tychicus, has brought this letter to you. He serves the Lord very faithfully as our brother who is joined as one with the Lord. I also sent him so that he could give you news about my situation and ministry, so that you can know about our situation and so that he can strengthen your hearts.//NLT To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.]  

1CHRONICLES 8:Today we read 1st Chronicles 8. Hang on! We’re almost through with the names chapters!  PROVERBS 17a:Before we open to chapter 17 of Proverbs, I have to say that it is hard to choose just one verse to highlight in today’s reading! Pro. 17:9 NLT Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,but dwelling on it separates close friends. Re-reading EPHESIANS 6:Once when I had long been in Indonesia and needed spiritual counsel, I received wise counsel from an experienced missionary. He encouraged me to ‘pray on’ the armor of God every day. So I prayed rather literally through the list of armor, asking for God to clothe me with each piece. And, even though not doing this with much understanding, I felt like it was sort of helpful. But then I began to get more and more uncomfortable. It was like I was just repeating a mantra of magic words. So how do we put on the armor, and do we need to put it on daily? Later in translating this passage, I found that the imperative verbs here are second aorist in tense. This means that the commands to put on each piece indicate a one-time action. The armor is not uncomfortable to wear like physical armor would be. We aren’t supposed to take it off. The pieces of armor are like the pillars of your identity in union with Christ. So how do you put them on? When I discuss this passage in my presentations to groups in Indonesia, I will often ask someone in one of the front, “Are you wearing the helmet of salvation?” And usually they will be rather embarrassed at being put on the spot and say, “Uh, I don’t know.” Then I say, “Do you believe that Jesus has saved you?” With a smile of relief they say, Yes. Then I say to the whole group, “He believes that Jesus saved him, so he is wearing the helmet of salvation!” Now with that example, I challenge you to figure out what you need to believe in order to wear the other pieces of armor!

“God doesn’t always speak, but that doesn’t mean the person of faith is off the hook of responsibility for their life or actions. There is no shaft of light that comes from heaven and says to you, ‘Okay my son or my daughter, you are right.’ You often have to hold onto it by the skin of your teeth and hope there’s going to be vindication on the other side.” - Archbishop Desmond Tutu Main Text: Ruth 2 (NLT) Love always asks for more than the Law. Love goes beyond enough to extravagance. Our God loves extravagantly...through us. For Further Discussion Read Ruth 2. How does God meet the needs of Ruth & Naomi? Who does he use to accomplish his work? Read Matthew 6. How does Jesus interpret the law? How does his command to love enhance the laws he quotes? Describe a time in your life you were loved extravagantly. What do you remember most about it? How have you experienced God’s extravagant love? This week, what would it look like for you to love someone extravagantly? What simple things can be done to reflect the love of God to someone?

One of the things in your life that will continually need rescued is your relationships.   Relationships are all about connection.   Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble [Encouragement]. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone [Closeness]? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer [Value]. Three are even better, for a triple- braided cord is not easily broken. A Relationship Is A Living Thing And It Needs Continual Nurturing Or It Will Die! The First Relationship That Needs Rescued And Continually Rescued:   Your Relationship With God!   2 Things That Are Necessary To Have A Healthy Connection With God! 1. Time With God In His Word! Read On A Plan. 1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)  This is the confidence [boldness] which we have toward Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 2. Time With God In Prayer! Pray On A Track The 4 Pillars of Prayer! 1. Worship Psalm 100:4-5 (NASB)  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations. 2. Repentance Check Your Love Life  [Gal. 5:6 - Faith works by love] 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.   3. Empowerment The Ministry of the Holy Spirit: Isaiah 11:2  Wisdom [order]; Understanding [vision]; Counsel [for godly decisions]; Might [energy]; Knowledge [know how]; The fear of the Lord [integrity] The Nature of the Holy Spirit:Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Guidance of the Holy Spirit:John 16:13  He will guide you into all the truth and show you things to come. Partnership with the Holy Spirit in prayer:Romans 8:26-27; Jude 1:20; 1 Corinthians 14:2 4. Petition Your FamilyJob prayed for his family - Job 1:5]  He washed them with the Word! Your ChurchPaul prayed for the church [2 Cor. 11:28; Eph. 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-12; 4:12] Your City & NationJeremiah prayed for the city  [Jer. 29:7] Paul prayed for all in authority [1 Tim. 2:1-4] Missions- Local & World [Jesus told us to pray for world harvest - Luke 10:2] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/spiritlifechurch/message

In 2012 a Gallup poll ranked countries with the most and least emotions, with one country coming out as least positive people on earth. A BBC correspondent in who lived there wrote about her experiences . Part way through her story she writes: I got pregnant. Ten weeks of morning sickness ensued, turning my daily commute into a 45-minute gauntlet. One morning the nausea finally got the better of me just as I had stepped onto a packed train. Worried I was going to faint, I crouched to the floor, holding my head in my hands. And so I remained, completely ignored, for the full 15 minutes it took to reach my station. Nobody offered me a seat or asked me if I was okay. For the first time [this country] had made me feel unhappy. I had been vulnerable - completely reliant on the kindness of strangers. [These people], I felt, had let me down. As I sat recovering on the platform I wondered if this was part of the story behind those Gallup poll results. By this time a follow-up to the original survey had been published and according to the figures, [This country] had apparently cheered up quite a lot (after a government campaign to make people feel happier). But all I could see was a massive compassion deficit. Or were my fellow passengers that day just unusually uncaring? A friend said later that day “Oh no, I am not surprised at all”. “My sister is seven months pregnant and she fell down a packed escalator the other day and had to crawl to the nearest railing to heave herself up. Nobody helped.” “We are programmed to think only about ourselves,” he exclaimed. While it is easy to point to the dysfunctional way others live in another part of the world, I’m sure that many of us here today can remember situations when we felt unloved, either from a friend, a neighbour, family, from strangers, or from our community or society in general. But thankfully, many of us can point to situations when we have been loved by others. It might be through presents or words of encouragement when there are no disasters in our lives. Or it might be when things go wrong and we experience the love of people coming around us to help us out in different ways – whether practically, or in sympathy, or in encouragement, and so on. But where does love come as a priority in our lives? Love God and others The most important commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36–40, NLT) This week, without taking away from the first of these two commandments, I’d like us to focus on the second, loving our neighbour as ourselves – loving others. What priority does love have in our lives? Love is crucial to life. So much so, that the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that it is far more important than other aspects of Christian living. Haphazard-priority But what has first priority in our lives? God, church, work, family, ambition, plans for the future (our bucket list), others, God? How is our Christianity balanced? What has top priority? Some people are more concerned with doing the right thing, but without a care or thought for how it affects other. For them, they are concerned that their truth or their cause comes first. People are secondary. They don’t care if people are hurt or killed, in their cause of truth. For some, people come first, before God. They don’t just love others, but they do so at the expense of loving God. People are more important to God, instead of people being important because God says that they are and because God says we should love them. Love-priority But for others, love comes first - love of God and love of others. This is how our priority in our Christian lives ought to be balanced. Love ought to come first In 1 Corinthians 13, the passage often read at weddings, Paul shows that no matter what we do, if it is not accompanied by love it does not count. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–3, NLT) Love ought to come first, above doctrinal orthodoxy, campaigning for the truth, worship, martyrdom, and whatever otherwise noble things we could do for God or others. If they do not have love as their motivation, they may help others, but they don't count towards our eternal reward from God. All you need is love? The Beatles sang “All you need is love”. While on the one hand that is true, that if there was love abounding in the world, there would be no more war, no more trafficking, no more crime, no more oppression, no more injustice… On the other hand, it isn’t that simple – what the Beatles didn’t realise is that we’re not all capable of loving as we should. In order to love as we should, we need to have Christ in our lives, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to love, we need to walk in the Spirit. Yes, we need love, but we can’t say that ‘all’ we need is love, because we need more than love on its own, we need to be to be renewed, to be reconciled to God the Father by faith in Jesus’ atoning death on the cross in our place, to receive the Holy Spirit to renew us, to walk in the Spirit in order to produce the fruit of the Spirit, and then and only then will we be able to see true love become a reality that would change lives, that would change the world. We need God’s love and his power working in us, in order for us to be able to love other as we ought to. If we want to see the world changed the way the Beatles envisioned, we shouldn’t buy into their simplistic formula that presupposes that we naturally have the power, the ability, the desire, to love others and to be able to change the world. We should turn to God through faith in Jesus, instead, and then and only then can we have a realistic hope of seeing the world changed, one heart at a time. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NLT) “We love each other because he loved us first. 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 cannot see?” (1 John 4:19–20, NLT) Yes, all we need is love. But no, we can’t do it on our own – we need to turn to God first, to receive the forgiveness from Jesus death on the cross, as well as the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live the lives we ought to have lived.

In 2012 a Gallup poll ranked countries with the most and least emotions, with one country coming out as least positive people on earth. A BBC correspondent in who lived there wrote about her experiences . Part way through her story she writes: I got pregnant. Ten weeks of morning sickness ensued, turning my daily commute into a 45-minute gauntlet. One morning the nausea finally got the better of me just as I had stepped onto a packed train. Worried I was going to faint, I crouched to the floor, holding my head in my hands. And so I remained, completely ignored, for the full 15 minutes it took to reach my station. Nobody offered me a seat or asked me if I was okay. For the first time [this country] had made me feel unhappy. I had been vulnerable - completely reliant on the kindness of strangers. [These people], I felt, had let me down. As I sat recovering on the platform I wondered if this was part of the story behind those Gallup poll results. By this time a follow-up to the original survey had been published and according to the figures, [This country] had apparently cheered up quite a lot (after a government campaign to make people feel happier). But all I could see was a massive compassion deficit. Or were my fellow passengers that day just unusually uncaring? A friend said later that day “Oh no, I am not surprised at all”. “My sister is seven months pregnant and she fell down a packed escalator the other day and had to crawl to the nearest railing to heave herself up. Nobody helped.” “We are programmed to think only about ourselves,” he exclaimed. While it is easy to point to the dysfunctional way others live in another part of the world, I’m sure that many of us here today can remember situations when we felt unloved, either from a friend, a neighbour, family, from strangers, or from our community or society in general. But thankfully, many of us can point to situations when we have been loved by others. It might be through presents or words of encouragement when there are no disasters in our lives. Or it might be when things go wrong and we experience the love of people coming around us to help us out in different ways – whether practically, or in sympathy, or in encouragement, and so on. But where does love come as a priority in our lives? Love God and others The most important commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36–40, NLT) This week, without taking away from the first of these two commandments, I’d like us to focus on the second, loving our neighbour as ourselves – loving others. What priority does love have in our lives? Love is crucial to life. So much so, that the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that it is far more important than other aspects of Christian living. Haphazard-priority But what has first priority in our lives? God, church, work, family, ambition, plans for the future (our bucket list), others, God? How is our Christianity balanced? What has top priority? Some people are more concerned with doing the right thing, but without a care or thought for how it affects other. For them, they are concerned that their truth or their cause comes first. People are secondary. They don’t care if people are hurt or killed, in their cause of truth. For some, people come first, before God. They don’t just love others, but they do so at the expense of loving God. People are more important to God, instead of people being important because God says that they are and because God says we should love them. Love-priority But for others, love comes first - love of God and love of others. This is how our priority in our Christian lives ought to be balanced. Love ought to come first In 1 Corinthians 13, the passage often read at weddings, Paul shows that no matter what we do, if it is not accompanied by love it does not count. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–3, NLT) Love ought to come first, above doctrinal orthodoxy, campaigning for the truth, worship, martyrdom, and whatever otherwise noble things we could do for God or others. If they do not have love as their motivation, they may help others, but they don't count towards our eternal reward from God. All you need is love? The Beatles sang “All you need is love”. While on the one hand that is true, that if there was love abounding in the world, there would be no more war, no more trafficking, no more crime, no more oppression, no more injustice… On the other hand, it isn’t that simple – what the Beatles didn’t realise is that we’re not all capable of loving as we should. In order to love as we should, we need to have Christ in our lives, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to love, we need to walk in the Spirit. Yes, we need love, but we can’t say that ‘all’ we need is love, because we need more than love on its own, we need to be to be renewed, to be reconciled to God the Father by faith in Jesus’ atoning death on the cross in our place, to receive the Holy Spirit to renew us, to walk in the Spirit in order to produce the fruit of the Spirit, and then and only then will we be able to see true love become a reality that would change lives, that would change the world. We need God’s love and his power working in us, in order for us to be able to love other as we ought to. If we want to see the world changed the way the Beatles envisioned, we shouldn’t buy into their simplistic formula that presupposes that we naturally have the power, the ability, the desire, to love others and to be able to change the world. We should turn to God through faith in Jesus, instead, and then and only then can we have a realistic hope of seeing the world changed, one heart at a time. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NLT) “We love each other because he loved us first. 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 cannot see?” (1 John 4:19–20, NLT) Yes, all we need is love. But no, we can’t do it on our own – we need to turn to God first, to receive the forgiveness from Jesus death on the cross, as well as the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live the lives we ought to have lived.

In 2012 a Gallup poll ranked countries with the most and least emotions, with one country coming out as least positive people on earth. A BBC correspondent in who lived there wrote about her experiences . Part way through her story she writes: I got pregnant. Ten weeks of morning sickness ensued, turning my daily commute into a 45-minute gauntlet. One morning the nausea finally got the better of me just as I had stepped onto a packed train. Worried I was going to faint, I crouched to the floor, holding my head in my hands. And so I remained, completely ignored, for the full 15 minutes it took to reach my station. Nobody offered me a seat or asked me if I was okay. For the first time [this country] had made me feel unhappy. I had been vulnerable - completely reliant on the kindness of strangers. [These people], I felt, had let me down. As I sat recovering on the platform I wondered if this was part of the story behind those Gallup poll results. By this time a follow-up to the original survey had been published and according to the figures, [This country] had apparently cheered up quite a lot (after a government campaign to make people feel happier). But all I could see was a massive compassion deficit. Or were my fellow passengers that day just unusually uncaring? A friend said later that day “Oh no, I am not surprised at all”. “My sister is seven months pregnant and she fell down a packed escalator the other day and had to crawl to the nearest railing to heave herself up. Nobody helped.” “We are programmed to think only about ourselves,” he exclaimed. While it is easy to point to the dysfunctional way others live in another part of the world, I’m sure that many of us here today can remember situations when we felt unloved, either from a friend, a neighbour, family, from strangers, or from our community or society in general. But thankfully, many of us can point to situations when we have been loved by others. It might be through presents or words of encouragement when there are no disasters in our lives. Or it might be when things go wrong and we experience the love of people coming around us to help us out in different ways – whether practically, or in sympathy, or in encouragement, and so on. But where does love come as a priority in our lives? Love God and others The most important commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36–40, NLT) This week, without taking away from the first of these two commandments, I’d like us to focus on the second, loving our neighbour as ourselves – loving others. What priority does love have in our lives? Love is crucial to life. So much so, that the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that it is far more important than other aspects of Christian living. Haphazard-priority But what has first priority in our lives? God, church, work, family, ambition, plans for the future (our bucket list), others, God? How is our Christianity balanced? What has top priority? Some people are more concerned with doing the right thing, but without a care or thought for how it affects other. For them, they are concerned that their truth or their cause comes first. People are secondary. They don’t care if people are hurt or killed, in their cause of truth. For some, people come first, before God. They don’t just love others, but they do so at the expense of loving God. People are more important to God, instead of people being important because God says that they are and because God says we should love them. Love-priority But for others, love comes first - love of God and love of others. This is how our priority in our Christian lives ought to be balanced. Love ought to come first In 1 Corinthians 13, the passage often read at weddings, Paul shows that no matter what we do, if it is not accompanied by love it does not count. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–3, NLT) Love ought to come first, above doctrinal orthodoxy, campaigning for the truth, worship, martyrdom, and whatever otherwise noble things we could do for God or others. If they do not have love as their motivation, they may help others, but they don't count towards our eternal reward from God. All you need is love? The Beatles sang “All you need is love”. While on the one hand that is true, that if there was love abounding in the world, there would be no more war, no more trafficking, no more crime, no more oppression, no more injustice… On the other hand, it isn’t that simple – what the Beatles didn’t realise is that we’re not all capable of loving as we should. In order to love as we should, we need to have Christ in our lives, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to love, we need to walk in the Spirit. Yes, we need love, but we can’t say that ‘all’ we need is love, because we need more than love on its own, we need to be to be renewed, to be reconciled to God the Father by faith in Jesus’ atoning death on the cross in our place, to receive the Holy Spirit to renew us, to walk in the Spirit in order to produce the fruit of the Spirit, and then and only then will we be able to see true love become a reality that would change lives, that would change the world. We need God’s love and his power working in us, in order for us to be able to love other as we ought to. If we want to see the world changed the way the Beatles envisioned, we shouldn’t buy into their simplistic formula that presupposes that we naturally have the power, the ability, the desire, to love others and to be able to change the world. We should turn to God through faith in Jesus, instead, and then and only then can we have a realistic hope of seeing the world changed, one heart at a time. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NLT) “We love each other because he loved us first. 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 cannot see?” (1 John 4:19–20, NLT) Yes, all we need is love. But no, we can’t do it on our own – we need to turn to God first, to receive the forgiveness from Jesus death on the cross, as well as the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live the lives we ought to have lived.

(Luke 2:9-11)(NLT) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don't be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.     (Luke 2:12)(NLT) The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”   (Luke 2:13-14)(NLT) Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”   Jesus didn't come to bring peace on earth, He came to the earth to bring peace.    (John 14:27) (NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.   (Psalm 120:6-7)(NIV) Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.   Losing Peace:   ·      Distance.   ·      Walls.   ·      Escalation.   ·      False belief.     ·      Hostility.   Hostility isn't the emotions you are feeling toward the other person, it's actually revealing the condition of your heart.    ·      War. 
   (James 3:14)(NIV) “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.   (James 3:15-16)(NIV) Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.   (Ephesians 2:12) (TLB) “Remember that in those days you were living utterly apart from Christ; …You were lost, without God, without hope.   (Ephesians 2:13) (TLB) But now you belong to Christ Jesus, and though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought very near to him because of what Jesus Christ has done for you with his blood.    (Ephesians 2:14) (NIV) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,        Pursuing Peace   1. I'll find peace when I make peace.   (James 3:17–18) (NIV) “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”     (Matthew 5:9) (NLT) “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.   2. I make peace through reconciliation.   (1 Corinthians 13:5) (NLT) …Love, …keeps no record of being wronged.   (2 Corinthians 5:18) (NIV)  “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting menʼs sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christʼs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christʼs behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”   3. I can't reconcile until I've been reconciled.   (Romans 5:10) (NIV) For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!   (Proverbs 16:7) (NKJV) When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.   (Romans 8:31) (NIV) If God is for us, who can be against us?

    (1 Corinthians 14:1 LB)  “Make love your greatest aim…”(John 13:34-35)  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you:  Love one another!  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”Title of Message: Expressions of Love["Maybe you are asking:  What does love have to do with it?"] (SONG)How do you say “I love you”VIDEO(1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT) “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”5 Expressions of Love1.    Words of affirmation.(Proverbs 18:21)  “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”(Ephesians 4:29)  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”2.    Acts of service.(1 John 3:18)  “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”(Galatians 5:13)  “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”3.    Gift giving.(John 3:16)  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(Luke 12:33)  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”4.    Quality time.This is Rachel's love language(Philippians 2:3-5)  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”(1 Corinthians 13:5 LB)  “…Love does not demand its own way.”5.    Physical touch.(Song of Solomon 4:1-3)  “How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing.  Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.  Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely.  Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.”(1 Corinthians 6:16 Message)  “There's more to sex than mere skin on skin.  Sex is as much a spiritual mystery as a physical fact.  It is written in Scripture, ‘The two become one.'”(1 John 4:7-8)  “Dear friends, 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.”How do I express love?1.    Receive the love of God.(John 15:13)  “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”(Psalm 107:43)  “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.”2.    Show the love of God.(1 John 4:19)  “We love because he first loved us.”   For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.