WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY LOVE

What it Means to Really Love

'Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.' 1 Corinthians 13:4 NKJV

Some of the greatest insights on what it means to love someone come from the pen of the apostle Paul: ‘Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ (1 Corinthians 13:3–7 NKJV)

John had been married to Mary for fifty years. One night in bed she said, ‘When we were young, you used to hold my hand.’ A little irritated, he slowly reaches out his hand. ‘When we were young, you used to snuggle up to me,’ Mary said. Even more slowly, John’s body creaks and turns, nestling against hers. ‘When we were young, you used to nibble on my ear,’ she whispered. Abruptly he throws back the covers and jumps out of bed. Bewildered, Mary asks, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘To get my teeth!’ he grumbles.

To nibble on an ear when you’re full of romance and bubbling hormones is one thing. To nibble on that same ear years later when it holds a hearing aid, when the scent in the air is Vicks VapoRub, and when you have to get up to get your teeth—that’s love!

SoulFood: Zech 5-8, Mark 14:66-72, Ps 34, Prov 24:29-31

BE JOYFUL

Be Joyful!

'You shall go out with joy.' Isaiah 55:12 NKJV

Every morning say, ‘Today, I will go out with joy.’ That’ll set your attitude straight! Generally speaking, there are three kinds of people:

(1) Those who feel bad about feeling good. They believe we’re not supposed to be happy, just ‘responsible.’

(2) Those who rain on your parade because your joy bothers them. Often these people have been hurt by life and anger simmers just beneath the surface.

(3) Those who lift your spirit and breathe life into you.

You say, ‘But doesn’t the Bible tell us believers are supposed to be different from nonbelievers?’ Yes, but not negatively different—positively different! And unless you commit yourself to walking in the joy of the Lord, you’ll find negative ways of distinguishing yourself from nonbelievers. Paul writes, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’ (Philippians 4:4 NIV) If you’re thinking, ‘That’s easy for Paul to say; he doesn’t have my problems,’ think again! When Paul wrote those words he was in prison with no chance of getting out. For him joy was a decision, not a reaction to circumstances. You ask, ‘How could Paul be joyful in prison?’ Because he understood that true joy comes from devoting yourself to something bigger than your own interests. The Bible says, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV)

True joy calls for three things:

(a) Making a conscious choice to focus on God’s goodness every single day.

(b) Reaching out to bless others every chance you get.

(c) Understanding that joy produces strength, which explains why your joy is the devil’s primary target.

When you lose your joy you lose your strength, and he wins—so be joyful!

 

SoulFood: Zech 1-4, Mark 14:53-65, Ps 39, Prov 24:26-28

DIVINE GUIDANCE 3

Divine Guidance (3)

'We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.' 2 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

Paul writes: ‘We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in…Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed…we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again.’ (2 Corinthians 1:8–10 NLT) For Paul, what looked like the end of the road was just the beginning of a fresh infusion of God’s power and favour into his life. As a result he went on to say that through it all he learned not to trust in himself, but in God ‘who raises the dead.’

It’s when your plans look dead that God’s resurrection power begins to operate in your life in greater measure. As long as you have a loving heavenly Father to call on, a word from the Lord to stand on and faith to activate it, you have every reason to rejoice.

So come on—start calling on God today! And do it in faith—not doubt. Expect Him to release His power on your behalf; then watch as He turns your situation around. Why? Because now you’re starting to trust the One who can really do something about it! Always remember that no matter how strong or successful you are, there’ll never be a time in your life when you don’t need God’s grace and guidance. And the sooner you learn that, the better off you’ll be

 SoulFood: 1 Kings 3:4-28, James 1:2-8

DIVINE GUIDANCE 2

Divine Guidance (2)

'God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.' Philippians 2:13 NLT

Underline these words: ‘God is working in you.’ He does this as you engage your mind, open your mouth, move your feet and use your hands to do what He’s already put into your heart. The moment you say yes to His will, He gives you the ability to perform it. 

Notice, He doesn’t reveal His will to you, then call you. He calls you and, as you step out in faith and obey Him, He reveals His will to you step by step, empowering and equipping you as you go.

If you’re thinking you’d like a little more detail before you make a commitment, take note.

First: God may make you uncomfortable where you are. ‘Like an eagle that stirs up its nest… the Lord…led him.’ (Deuteronomy 32:11–12 NIV) To teach her children to fly, a mother eagle literally pushes them out of the nest. Talk about being out of your element! Can you imagine what they are thinking? ‘It’s my mother doing this to me.’ But until a baby eagle is forced out of its comfort zone, it doesn’t realise it was born to fly, spread its wings, release its power and take its place in the skies. Is God stirring up your comfort zone today?

Second: God’s direction is impossible to follow without His help.He plans it that way. Jesus said, ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ (John 15:5 NKJV)

Third: There’s persistence in His leading. Human ideas go away, but God’s direction stays. That means time is on your side—so stay in step with God and don’t get ahead of Him.

SoulFood: 2 Tim 1-4, Mark 14:43-52, Ps 3, Prov 24:23-25

DIVINE GUIDANCE 1

Divine Guidance (1)

'He shows the proper path to those who go astray.' Psalm 25:8 NLT

Throughout Scripture God talked to ordinary people, and He’ll talk to you too! He told Abraham when to leave home (see Genesis 12:1), and Jacob when to go back home (see Genesis 31:3). He told Elijah where to find food in the middle of a famine (see 1 Kings 17:1–5). On two different occasions He stopped Paul from walking through what appeared to be a door of opportunity because He had something better in mind for him. The Bible says: ‘The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His demands.’ (Psalm 25:8–10 NLT)

Nothing is more important in life than being led by God. Other people’s input should confirm and clarify what God’s already telling you. But until you’ve heard from Him, you’ll be tempted to think other people’s ideas are God’s leading—and that can hurt you.

You’re unique, and God has a unique plan and purpose for you. When you’re not sure which way to go, stand on His promise: ‘I will lead My blind people by roads they have never travelled. I will turn their darkness into light and make rough country smooth before them. These are My promises, and I will keep them without fail.’ (Isaiah 42:16 GNT) It doesn’t get any better than that!

SoulFood: Mic 5-7, Mark 14:27-42, Ps 19, Prov 24:19-22

DIARY OF A CHRISTIAN GIRL

"What did you do and how did you do it?

That was my friend who was amazed at how suddenly my life turned around for best.

At first I was puzzled. I mean "what didn't I do?

One time, I didn't have money to contribute to the building of the church so I skipped work and went to the site to join the masons as a volunteer. After the day's work, my respect for construction workers grew immensely. I experienced brutal assault from the coalition of my body and mind.

My mind: "so it's because you needed a new job that's why you subjected us to such hard work. You best pray nobody recognises us. It's a good thing we are covered in cement ...and dust...and the spittle of the head Mason...

My Body: "are you trying to stretch your legs? Don't even think about it!

My mind: "...Normal people put out their C.Vs and applications for new jobs but we are above that, right? 

My body: "BTW, our legs are swollen and heavy so don't go crazy with the movements"

Anyway, I finished that and went home and I got an interview alert from a top bank.  

My mind: "Coincidence, perhaps?

My body: " I just want to know how you intend to get there because I plan on lying in bed till next month"

I did the interview and I didn't hear from them again till this moment. (RMBE)

Then I engaged in evangelism and met several characters. 

After that, I engaged in fasting and prayers and started experiencing unusual encounters. Sometimes in visions and dreams. Other times I hear a small voice speaking bible verses to me.

One time, I was sleeping and I heard a voice that prompted me out of the sweet sleep.

"Luke 1:37"

I quickly got up and opened my bible. And there it was;

"FOR WITH GOD, NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE"

My mind: "okay, that is no coincidence. We didn't know those words were in that verse"

So when my mind started believing, I started doing more things, following the instructions of Jesus Christ.

Then with the boldest step, I joined the choir!

The following can summarise the reactions I had during rehearsals:

WHAT THE HEAVEN? WTH

OH MY VOICE! 

BUT WHY?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?....

Then the act that touches Everyone's heart especially God's; giving! Anybody that says tithing and offerings are done by gullible people is indirectly saying there is no God and Psalms 14:1

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

However, looking at all the activities I engaged in and after outlining it for my friend and seeing her sceptical look...

 I could almost hear her mind saying;

"You and who wants to do all those things. You think I have time"(LOL)

...the truth is that I did all those things just because of one thing; Faith!

So anybody that asks me how I accomplished (still accomplishing) so much in a short time, I would tell them just one thing:

I HAVE FAITH!!!