My Everything...

Just a little something I wrote a while back.....

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My Everything.

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thank You for being God.

You alone are big enough, powerful enough, caring enough, knoweldgable, strong enough, loving enough, gentle enough for EVERYTHING- every minute, every situtation that I will ever face.

You truly are more than enough for me.

Help me to depend fully on You for what I need. God, be my EVERYTHING.  Come and consume my every thought with You.  May Your words flow out of my mouth.  God, I can’t survive today without You, without Your power working in my life.

I am an empty vessel.

Come and fill me so that I can be used by You today.  May I be used for Your honor and glory and not my own.  May what I do today further the kingdom of God. May I impact eternity today.  I can only do this if You come and be my Everything.

Run Your Race

Running, besides being a hobby of mine, is also a comparison to the Christian life.  The Christian walk is not a jog in the park, nor a sprint, but a long marathon.  Basically, its difficult.  The hardest thing for me is to take some time off from running and then get back into running.  Sometimes its just difficult to be disciplined to run.   I think Paul knew that its not only difficult to be disciplined to run but its also difficult to maintain discipline in our spiritual journey.  Too often its easier to watch tv than to spend time in the Word.  Its also a lot easier to talk to friends or coworkers about a new movie than it is to share the gospel with them.   

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Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, " 

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."  The challenge that Paul sets here is to "run in such a way that you may win."  Run to win, live to win.  We don't need any more aimless Christians but the world needs to see disciplined disciples of Jesus who strive for a closer walk with Him each day.   The reward for spiritual discipline is imperishable, everlasting.  This reward is something WORTH striving for.  It is worth daily discipline in our personal lives. Sure, we will stumble and fall but the key is not to remain there.  We must continue.  We must press on.  We have a race to finish, a reward to claim.

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The idea of running the race appears in Hebrews but before I dig into the opening verses lets paint a picture.  Imagine competing at the summer Olympics.  The whole world has their eyes on this race.  Fans are crowded in the stands.  They admire how much hard work and discipline it has taken you to get where you are.  This is it.  The moment you have been dreaming of and training for.   Now,Hebrews 12:1-3 says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "  As believers, instead of having the whole world cheering you on, we have other believers, those who have finished their races, in the stands.  Imagine people like Moses, David, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, Ruth, Thomas, Peter, James, and Elijah (and all the others I didn't mention) sitting in the stands cheering you on in your spiritual walk.  They'd be saying "keep going", "I overcame trials with God's strength and you can too", "Stay focused on the goal", "Don't give up", "Be strong", "Don't be afraid to go against popular opinion" (that would come from Josh or Caleb)... and they'd encourage you just by their presence.  All of these giants of the faith finished their races and that fact gives us hope that we too can persevere and finish strong. 

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At the end of life, when its all done, I want to be able to say this: 

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

Psalm 62:2 "He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." #ThankfulThurs #fb

Love Day #21

I know... I've missed  a few days this past weekend.. 

I won't try to post multiple posts to make up for the days I missed... I'll just post todays.

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Hebrews 13:1-2

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it

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Here we are encouraged to keep on loving our brothers and showing love to those we don't know.  Keep spreading God's love through everyday actions so that the world may see God's love for them.  

Love Day #18

1 Corinthians 13:4

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud

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Patient.  ARe we patient with those around us? Or do we loose our tempers easily?  

Kind. Are we kind to those who are mean to us? Do we respond in kindness or are we harsh with our enemies? 

Not envious. Are we content with what we have or do we long for what others have?

Not boasting and not proud. Are we humble or do we think too highly of ourselves?

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Strive to improve living in love each day.  We can not love one another on our own strength or by our own will power.  God is the source of all love and we need to abide in Him so that we can probably love each other. 

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How are you showing love today?

Love Day #17

Love

GOD IS LOVE; AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM, 1 John 4:16. Love is a chief attribute of Jehovah, the length and breadth and height and depth of which are beyond comprehension, for they are infinite, Ephesians 3:18,19. Between the three Persons of the Godhead, love is unutterable full, perfect, and blissful; towards holy angels and Christians, God's love is an infinite fatherly complacency and affection; towards sinners, it is immeasurable compassion. It is shown in all his works and ways, and dictated his holy law, but is most signally displayed in the gospel, John 3:16. "Herein is love."

Holy love in man would make the whole heart and soul supremely delight in and obey God, and cordially and practically love all beings according to their character-the good with fellowship of soul, and the evil with a Christ-like benevolence. Such a love would meet and fulfil all the ends of the law, Matthew 22:37-40 Romans 13:8-10. Without it, none can enter heaven; and as the affections of every unrenewed heart are all mixed with sin, being given to forbidden objects, or selfishly and unduly given to objects not forbidden, we must be "born again" in order to see God, John 3:3 1 John 4:7,19 5:4.

( I got this from : http://topicalbible.org/l/love.htm ) 

Love Day #16

Well, I had quite the busy day...hence why I'm blogging so late at night. Yet if there is one reminder that the writer of Hebrews (and many other books) has for believers - it is that we show love.  Live a life of love because that is how Jesus lived and we are to follow His example.

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Hebrews 13:1

"Let love of the brethren continue."

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We are never to cease in our love for each other.  The moment that we stop looking out for the other person's best interest, we become disobedient to the command of love. 

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Keep on showing love to others, especially believers.  I know so often it is easy for a little argument to draw people apart, but let us continue to show love and work out our differences in a loving manner. 

Love Day #15

Honestly, I can't believer that I've been on track with this "love day" blogging project.  Go me! Let's just see if I can keep it up. 

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2 Thessalonians 1:3

 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

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Paul was noting spiritual growth in the Thessalonica church.  He was thankful that their faith was growing and that they were maturing in their love for each other.  How about you:  Is your faith and love growing?  

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Take time today to invest in your walk with Jesus in order to increase your faith and love. It will be worth it. 

Love Day #14

Happy Valentines Day!

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1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

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These verses describe love but they can also provide insight on your friendships/relationships with those around you.  If you have time and want to see how you are doing at loving others... ask yourself the following questions:

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1. Am I being patient with this person?

2. Am I being kind?

3. Am I envious ?

4. Do i boast?

5. Am I proud?

6. Have I been rude to him/her?

7. Am I seeking my own needs/interests or am I seeking the good for the other person?

8. Do I get angry easily?

9. How easily do I forgive? 

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Your answers to these questions will show you areas in your friendship that you can work on showing more love and be more loving.

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Fall more in love with Jesus today!  Happy valentine's day! 

Love Day #13

Today instead of sharing a verse and writing... I'm going to share some verses and notes from church today since Pastor Dave preached on love.  The title of the message was "Relate in Love".  Basically, we have many different types of relationships and different levels of relationships in our lives but in each relationship - whether with a friend, a bank clerk, or family member we need to show love to one another.  

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A few highlights from today's message:

* Healthy relationships are essential with God and Man.

Ephesians 4:2 - Be completel humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Hosea 6:6 - I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.  I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. 

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* Central to Bad relationships is Sin

James 4:1-4 ; What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?... because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure.  you adulterers!  Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of GOd?  I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

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*Central to Good relationships is Love (God)

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. 

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*Therefore, we need to relate to God and others in love.*  

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Henry Blackaby says, "Everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing Him and experiencing Him, everything about knowing His will, depends on the quality of your love relationship to God."  

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(How true that is!  How is your love relationship with God doing?  Does He have your heart?  Are you loving Him completely?)

love day #12

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

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Be examples to others in your manner of love.  Love extravagantly.  Invest love into other people's lives and watch the tiny seed of love, which you planted, take root and grow resulting in a changed person because of one little seed of love. 

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for @LaBar89 .. i've got your spring break all planned for you. :)

I'm really looking forward to seeing my brother next month for his spring break. So, here are a few ideas i've had of what we can do.

Sean's Spring Break:

1. get sleep.

2. walk dayzee.

3. do hw

4. chase dayzee

5. Concert *Selah and Aaron Shust* at cross creek

6. Breakfast at Olde House.

7. Walk Dayzee some more..maybe at Frances Slocum?

8. Coffee Date

9. Field trip with Dayzee to Petsmart. that would be fun or a disaster. 

10. More homework.

11. maybe another baking adventure...

12. Country music sing along

13. a nap with dayzee

14. more schoolwork.

......and more random fun.

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like it Sean?  

I can't wait to see you next month!!!!! 

Love Day #11

2 John 1:5-6

"Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.  And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.  This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it."

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John reminds his audience of the basic principle of love.  He defines love not as an emotion but as obedience to God's commands.  Those who walk in obedience to God's commands/teachings are walking in love. I know for myself, its hard to walk in love all the time because its so easy to be disobedient and to walk in the flesh. However walking in the flesh is not rewarding but rather destructive to life.God never said that being a Christian would be easy.  He warned his disciples that people would hate them just as people hated Jesus.  

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Today and every day, let us strive to live a life of love by walking in obedience to the word of God. 

love day #10

I know most of my posts for my Love Days have been rather short.  Today's is a little longer because I thought instead of summarizing the BIble story, that I would let you read it for yourself.

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Genesis 22:1-14

 1Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” 3So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

      9Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”

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Now,  I realize that the word love doesn't appear in the text but can't you just see Abraham's love for God and for his son? This was Abraham's promised son. He waited so long for a son and then God is asking him to sacrifice his son on an alter.  But that's not the only love seen here. Look at Abraham's love for God.  God asked him to sacrifice Isaac and he obeyed out of his love for God.  Abraham believed that God would bless him through Isaac so he was willing to sacrifice his son because He believed that God would somehow do a miracle to save his promised son.

The aspect of love that  really struck me in this passage, is that love is sacrifice.  God wanted to see how much Abraham loved Him and Abraham proved his love by his willingness to sacrifice the very son that he loved so much.  

We say we love others, but are we sacrificing for them?  Are we freely giving of our time and energy to help them out?  Are we giving until it hurts, like Abraham did?

Here is a little challenge for today: sacrifice something in order to show someone else that you love them.  Maybe you'll sacrifice some time to help someone out or you'll give some money to a person in need.  Just think, Jesus sacrificed His perfect life to show us His love.  Be a light in this darkness and give up something in order to show God's love to others today. 

love day #9

Deuteronomy 6:5

"You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."

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I think this is a great verse to share today because so often we fail to love God wholeheartedly.  So many little "things" sometimes block us from completely loving God with ALL of our beings.  I think that its important for us as believers to periodically do an inventory of our own lives and see if we are truly obeying this verse by loving God completely.  Upon careful inspection of my own life, I see things that distract me from loving God to my fullest.  It is my responsibility to rearrange these things in my life so that God comes first and foremost.  That I love Him completely before I like anything here on earth. Also, my Bible contains notes/comments at the bottom of the page.  For this verse one of the comments reads, "Since this relationship of love for God could not be represented in any material way as with idols, it had to be demonstrated in obedience to God's law in daily life."  

Show whole hearted love for God in daily obedience.  Love Him first. Love Him completely. 

Love Day #8

Today I'm going to help my cousin paint her new apartment.  Its bittersweet.  I'm thankful that she got a job but sad that she'll only be home every other weekend.  Over the past few months we've grown close and its been such a blessing.  

Anyway, today's thought on love... I've said before love is a verb and we need to show those around us that we love them through our actions.  My schedule today made me think about that statement and take it one step further.  Love is more than just a verb; it is service.  Love is serving other people.  Love is being like Jesus, humbling yourself, thinking of others needs before your own needs, and reaching out to meet other people's needs. This "service brand" of love comes in all different styles.  For me, it is painting, for others it may be giving a friend a hug, or offering a ride to someone.  

Serve others today! 

1 Peter 4:8-10

8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 

love day #7

1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
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This verse reminds me of high school band with the most awkward band director ever, Mr. Hunter.  He was a lot of things that I will not go into now but like all band directors he did not like "tacky" music.  It bothered him when we played slightly out of tune or if we played the rhythm wrong.  I remember one period in particular, the drummer in the back was adding his own bit of style to the written music.  Mr. Hunter did not approve of the added personalization of the music so Mr. Hunter made the drummer play the measures as written.  Again and again, and again.
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When we fail to show love we are like the noisy musical mess that Mr. Hunter couldn't stand.  Our speech may be very educated and formal but without love we are noisy gongs in God's ears.
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Let's show love and may our love be a beautiful melody to God's ears today.

Love Day #6

 1 John 3: 18
"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."
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love day #5

"Love to both God and man is fundamental to true religion, whether as expressed in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Jesus Himself declared that all the law and the prophets hang upon love." (topcialbible.org/I/love.htm)
Galatians 5:14
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
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If the entire law can be summed up as love God and love men ... love is very important.
As I've mentioned before, let's show the world love today. Spend time alone loving God and then show love to those around you.

because I can't put all of this in a status.....

Tonight's Random Thoughts:

{ It's not that I don't like winter, because I do, .. its just that I would like spring to come so that  I can run outside.  The other day I didn't finish my running because i was tired of running inside on a machine and wanted to run outside. 
I even like the snow on the ground, and don't mind driving in it... I just miss running outside.
So, when it gets to a high of 40 and sunny.. and there is room alongside the road - I'm going for a run. }
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{All I want for valentine's day are jelly beans from Gertude Hawks (not the spicy flavor).  I know this sounds weird, but they are so good and I'm not a big fan of chocolate anyway. }
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{Speaking of Valentine's day... I still have to go get some small gifts for those I love in my life. Definitely planning on visiting PetSmart for the little Dayzee girl. Maybe I should sign her up for obedient school...}
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{Any good suggestions on fighting a sore throat?  My family is sick, and i'm the last one to get this sickness.... I was actually trying to avoid it altogether but that didn't work.  Today I woke up with a little sore throat.  It hasn't gotten any worse but hasn't gotten any better.  I drank a lot of fluids today..including apple juice (which is not my favorite).  The only reason why i drank apple juice was because of the vitamin C content.}
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{Man, Dayzee has some bad doggy gas tonight... maybe its from the pizza crusts she had tonight.}
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{The superbowl is this weekend. I think its lame and highly overrated. Just another football game. Big deal. There will be a winner and a loser.}
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{So, someone offered to teach me how to ski...ski down a mountain side.  Can you just imagine that one?  Lol.  I just see myself sliding down and knocking people over or crashing into  a tree.  Should I be brave and teachable and give skiing a try?}
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{Well, that's about all I have .... happy weekend!}

love day #4

Love suffers long and is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4

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Love preserves under difficult circumstances and remains kindhearted. In this sense, I think love is a choice.  Each person is in charge of their own responses to situations.  A person practicing love although may not like the situation he/she is in but will act appropriately in order to be a light in the darkness.

Let’s show love today by reacting in love to whatever trial occurs.

love day #3

Basically a continuation of yesterday… love for each other. 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Because of God’s love for us, we are to love each other.  No one is perfect. Think about a holy God loving imperfect people. But He loves us so much!  How much different could the world be  if we live a life of love toward one another. We must begin to show love at our own sphere of influence.  Its like throwing a rock into a pond- the ripple effect.  As we begin to show love to those around us, love ripples begin to form.

Let us continue the "love ripple effect" today as we show love to each other. (warning - others will notice and this may just be contagious).

Love Day #2

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor

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John 13:35

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

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A life of love in action will show the world God's love.   We are supposed to be devoted to other believers in a "family" sort of love.  The quality of love will be the way the world realizes that there is something different about us.   We are also told to honor each other which means to consider their needs before our own.  This is a backwards way of thinking according to the world's standard.  The world's mindset is all about "me".  "My wants", "My needs", etc.  However, the Bible shows that the way to love is to consider other people's wants/needs before our own.  

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Too often I think that the church doesn't practice this sort of living because we are so consumed with the culture around us.  We focus on Bible reading with a "me" mindset.  We think "what can I get out of it" ... which is a good question to ask but we stop there.  And that is where we fail.  We need to be focused not only on what we get out of our quiet times, but go further and look for opportunities to share what we learn with those around us... in doing so we move from the "me" aspect to "others" because we are focusing on their need for the Word.  Also, I think that if we as believers really took these two verses to heart and practiced them, I think that more of our unsaved family members and friends would come to know Jesus because of our life of love.  

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Today, let's practice loving each other and maybe we can change the world through our love. 

Love Day #1

This month i'm going to try to blog everyday about the topic of love in honor of Valentine's day.  Love should be a daily practice, not saved up for special days throughout the year...which is why I'm blogging on this topic throughout the month instead of just one day. 

Today, I would like to point out that love is more than feelings but love is an action verb.  Love compels us to help out each other... but that's a topic for another day.

Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

How awesome is the love of God toward us! 

Today, remember how much God loves you.