Stay Calm Jesus Loves You: Part 2 - Envy and Boasting!

In continuing with my previous post, the scripture brings us to two more attributes of love:

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love does not envy; love does not parade itself (boast)

Envy: a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.

The word in this definition that stands out to me the most is discontented. When we are discontent with what God has given us or entrusted to us, we begin to look at others that have what we want and deduce that the reason they have it is because clearly God loves them and not us. This is incredibly false! We need to stop comparing ourselves, talents, possessions, status etc to what others have. If we would simply accept the fact that God loves us, then we would look at the things that we have and glorify in the fact that it was given to us. We bring such pain and hurt into our lives with envy. Once envy comes in, it twists are vision to no longer see that the root problem is that we are discontent. Instead it masks itself as a lie against the nature of God, that says, He does not love me. He won't give me the desires of my heart. He won't answer my prayers. Once that root comes into our lives we become offended by our Lord. Envy kills the soul, it robs you of life. It makes you focus on everything that is wrong rather on what is right. It causes you to actually hate when good things happen to and for others. When it gets to that point you are void of any true love of God. God is good! If you don't like when good things happen, then you are in direct opposition to God and His work. If you are content with what you have been given you will know that God loves you. Instead of looking at what you have been given negatively look at the positives, there is no one God saw more fit to give what was given to you but you. You are unique in inheriting whatever it is that He gave you. Try to see what you have been given through Gods eyes and if you can't see it ask Him for the vision to see. Love is content, it does not want what others have. Love is full and complete, it wants for nothing. Psalms 23:1 says, "The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want". David can claim this because he has all he needs. He isn't looking for more, God has given him his needs and he wants for nothing. Now please don't misunderstand me, complacency and contentment are two different things. But to being content means to rest in the knowledge that you do indeed have all the tools you need. When God shows you how to use these tools you can enter into the season of your life.

Boast: talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.

Love does not parade itself. Love is humble, it makes no trumpet sounds or overexposes itself. One characteristic of humble people is a sense of self-worth that can't be defined by others nor does it depend on the applause of others. Self-assured people know who they are. They understand their limitations and that in which they excel. There is no longing to be approved or lifted up. Love is the same way, Love comes quietly. It is not flashy. Love has an identity. Many people who seek attention or parade themselves have no identity. They do not fully know who they are and therefore need the approval of others in order to feel complete. Real love does not need to parade itself, it is known by its characteristics. When you look at love, you know it, you feel it, there is a distinct witness that it is indeed love. Sometimes, it is in the most quiet of ways God shows that He loves you. There is no production or fanfare. When love is boastful it is less intimate and God desires an intimate relationship with all of us. When Jesus healed various people in the Bible, more often than not, He told them not to say anything or share what He did for them in a public manor. This is love. In Matthew 6:3 Jesus says "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth". Love is not about patting itself on the back, it is so selfless as to not even give credit to itself even after demonstrating one of its attributes. When we boast, we are saying that the approval of God is not enough. That we somehow need for man to lift us up. If you truly know that God loves you, then you understand that He approves of you. He doesn't need to put you on a pedestal, send a dove and proclaim that you are a good child. Love simply does what is necessary even without recognition. Think about Jesus. He did the most amazing, game changing, life altering work on this earth, the very personification of love and everyday you don't hear trumpets from heaven and Jesus giving a speech for all that He has done. No, true love will sit quietly and unrecognized until our eyes can accurately identify it.

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I beseech you, if you are feeling incomplete and envious, please search the scriptures for the truth of God's love. These two issues can lead us down paths that end in destruction.  Remember, scripture says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18) and "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones." (Proverbs 14:30). Know that you are loved.

Do You Really Know that God Loves You? Part 1: Patient and Kind

Did you know that God loves you? I know this might seem like a stupid question but do you really know with all your heart that God loves you. I was asked this question about 2 years ago and it really shocked me to my core. For the first time I was confused about whether or not God loved me. On a cerebral level I understood that God loved me. I knew the precious sacrifice he made by sending His only Son to die, was a sacrifice of love. But beyond that, for some reason my heart had a hard time translating that notion. I think not fulling understanding that God loved me came from my misunderstanding of Love.

To understand what love really means is to understand God for God is Love and He is perfect in all His ways. Often times we tend to lean unto out own understanding. Proverbs 6: 5 - 6 says

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct[a] your paths.

When we take the world's concept of love and try to project that on God's Word, it fails miserably. We begin to pigeon hole God in our definition of love.

Two years ago, I was dealing with issues of God's love for me. There were moments when I thought, God just doesn't love me. I am not sure how the enemy planted that seed in my mind and heart but he did. God's love is divine and to understand it we must go to His word. I am sure most of you know the following verse but let's really look at it.

1Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I  am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Starting at verse 4: Love is long suffering (patient) and kind. I, by nature, am an impatient person. It is by the grace of God that I can practice patience. I, like most people, want what I want, when I want it and how I want it. This is in direct contradiction to what the Word says. Love/God is patient. That means, while I was dead in my sin, He patiently waited for me to realize the error of my ways. He, being my creator, waited patiently as I played the harlot, trying to run after the desires of my wicked heart.  Any normal person would have walked away. I know so many couples who have faced infidelity in their marriage and decided to walk away, but God says, love is patient. It will wait for you to choose it and reciprocate that love. It is kind. Kind according to Marriam Webster's dictionary is defined as;  having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others : wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others. Love desires to help and to do good things. There is none good but God. He is the author of all things good. I can't tell you how many times I have asked God for something that in my understanding was good and He did not give me what I desired. In those moments of God denying my request I often attributed it to the fact that He just didn't't love me. After all, if I asked my earthly father for something and it was within his means to obtain it for me, he would do it with no questions asked. The difference between God and my earthly father is that God sees the results of my requests. He alone knows what is good for me. So although my earthly father means well, he could do me harm if he does not consult the Lord before honoring my request. We don't always understand what God is doing, but if we don't understand, let us pray that the lie that He doesn't love us, does not take root in our lives. If we begin to believe this lie, we render God a liar and He cannot lie. God wants good things to happen to you, He wants you to be happy, but the only person that can define that is God. We can't apply our limited understanding to what happiness looks like. For us, happiness is subjective but to God happiness is absolute and defined by God. To understand true happiness, you will need to seek God. You will need to understand why scripture says 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4).

Have any of you struggled with understanding the love of God, specifically as it applies to your relationship with Him? How did you overcome?

 Over the next couple of weeks I would like to explore the attributes of love, which in reality are the attributes of God.

Oh Give Thanks, unto the Lord; for He is Good

It is that time again, Thanksgiving!!!! It is one of my favorite holidays. It is time to eat, fellowship with loved ones and eat! This is a day our nation has given us to give thanks. But we know as believers everyday is a day to give thanks. Shower the Lord with Thanksgiving and praise because He is worthy. He saved us from sin and death. He gave us His only Son to be a sacrifice so that we may have life (John 3:16). He has given us freedom, power and authority in Christ. He has given us healing, love, peace and a sound mind (Isaiah 53:5/2 Timothy 1:7). He has given us joy, rest and forgiveness. He is the ultimate giver! He gives to us everyday! So He deserves all the thanks and all the praise everyday.

We thank you Jesus for your love and sacrifice that you have given so freely to us. You paid the ultimate price so that we would have life and have it more abundantly. You delivered us out of sin and hell. You have healed us, redeemed us, forgiven us and set us free. Thank you for keeping us, providing for us and never leaving us. Thank you for being the lover of our soul and advocate. We love you and sing praises to your Holy Name.

The Lord Glorified In The Rescuing of A Missing Girl In Florida

I read an amazing article today at Yahoo.com about James King the man that rescued 11 year old Nadia Bloom in the swamps of Florida. Mr. King said it was God that directed him to Nadia. Nadia's father said in one article "Let God be glorified." Hallelujah! God is Good! I pray we hear more about God being glorified on the news. This is a great testimony about God protecting His children and showing how much He loves us. And thank God for a man like James King who humbles himself and gives God all the glory. He is a true Hero. There is a link below to the article and a clip of Mr. King on Good Morning America and The Early Show.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100414/ap_on_re_us/us_girl_found_in_swamp

Who Are You?

The Bible says that we are created in the image of God yet most of us live our lives trying to measure up to the standards of man. We were all created for a higher purpose but so many of us believe the lie of the enemy and don’t realize that there is more to each of us than what can be seen with the physical eye.

Often times the enemy will come up with a lie for you to believe. He will tell you lies about who you are but more significantly he will tell you lies about who God is. If the Lord put His breath of life in us and said that He would make us in His own image then we should rejoice that we are God’s very own creation.

So to understand who you are, you must know what God’s word says about you.

Genesis 1:26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

We are made in the image and likeness of God. God molded us after His likeness. How awesome is that! In the creation account in the Bible, no other creature was made after the Lord’s image. God told the waters to bring forth aquatic creatures; God told the air to bring forth birds and likewise told the earth to bring forth animals and creeping things. However when it comes to man, God spoke to Himself and in a way told Himself to bring forth man in His own image. We are a reflection of God, which is also why the enemy is afraid of us and wants to diminish the image of God. If the enemy can get us to believe that we are less than who God says we are, he is also diminishing the image of God. It’s a twofold plan. Convince man that he is worth nothing and simultaneously diminish God’s image. If you start believing that you are less than who God says you are then you are also saying God is less than who He is. We need to stand firm on what the Lord has told us.

Psalm 139:14: I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

The psalmist states that he is fearfully and wonderfully made. Often times the enemy will sow a seed of doubt in our hearts that we are not good enough, that we are not worthy enough that there is something wrong with us. But the psalmist knows that it is a lie. Why would God create anything that is not beautiful and wonderful? Why would he create something that is not worthy of love or blessings. Don’t let the enemy lie to you about who you are. The psalmist in the same verse says, marvelous are thy works. We are a work of God and that makes us and the things that the Lord does in our lives marvelous. We are unique and special in the sight of God.

Matthew 5:14: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

We are a light to this world. The world is a dark place. Everything around us is a breeding ground for sin. Many of the movies, ads and music that we are subjected to are provoking us to be apart of the darkness. It lures us into a world that feeds our flesh and lustful desires. Yet, God says that we are a light unto the world. Don’t let the devil convince you that the darkness is fun that it is attractive. You are a light in the world. You are an example of the truth of God and the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:1: Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

John writes that we are loved by God. One translation uses the word lavish, that He lavishes us with love. A big lie of the enemy is that we are not loved. When we believe this lie, so many of us start looking for love in all the wrong places. We start looking for love in other people, sex, drugs, money and so much more. We try to find live and acceptance wherever we can get it instead of knowing that God loves us above everything else. He loves us. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son for our salvation. That’s a pretty big deal. That God himself would come through space and time to take on human flesh and dwell among us and die for us. The Bible says that there is no greater love than a man lay his life down for another and that is what God did. He died so we could be free from sin and shame. He loves us so much. John goes on to say that this love was so great that he has called us his children. We are the children of God. You are a child of God. He is your Father and would do anything for you, even die for you. How great is our God!

The first lie the devil ever told was that God was a liar. Genesis 3:1-5 says:

¹ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Notice that the serpent says, you will not surely die, which contradicts what God said, therefore the serpent is trying to convince Eve that God lied to her. If the devil can convince you that God is a liar then he can coerce you into voiding every promise, every truth, and the knowledge of God. He wants to defile not only your image but the image of God in you. You cannot allow the devil to do this to you. You have to know what God says about you. How he loves you and wants you to know Him, because the more you know God the more you learn about yourself. The enemy will try to hurt you with fiery darts (lies) and cripple you, but if you know that you are a victor and not a victim you can serve the enemy notice that all his lies will never be greater than the truth of God which resides in you, Christ Jesus. Don’t allow depression, low self-esteem, the nasty things people say and the like take root in your life. God wants to show you who you are to make you strong in Him. If you are saying to yourself, I don’t know if this is true, then I would strongly recommend you ask God. Ask God who you are and He will show you. He will show you that you are loved, fearfully and wonderfully made, His child, a light unto the world, marvelous! Let God show you who you are. Take hold of it and believe it, because this truth is the door to your freedom.