Loving others is a gift from God.
Helping others is a gift from God.
Being able to ask and receive help is a gift from God.
Being told to not ask for help is a lie from the enemy.
Jesus came for us to love.
He liberated us so we can love one another.
Loving others is the key to unlocking prison doors.
Being able to love is how you change the world.
The world is already a dark, lonely, hateful, greedy place and without it we are living in Hell.
And if you think otherwise you must also be reading from Trump's upside down bible.*
I refuse to live in a world without love, mercy, understanding, grace, and compassion.
I believe in treating others how I would want to be treated and making admends for the things that I do that is intentionally harmful. But I won't apologize for sharing my heart or asking for help when I need it. Even if it disturbs your peace. Read the good book, Jesus came and disturbed the pharisees. And they didn't like it. But, regardless He kept doing it. He was about His father's business. So let us be about our Father's business and that is the business of loving others, praying, and serving them. It means joining in with them and getting our hands dirty. Our compassion should move us to help. It means loving them anyways. There are always a million reasons we shouldn't love others, but Loving others makes us different than everyone else. People should feel and see the difference. Love isn't for the select few it is for all of God's children. Just think how much better our world would be if we all stay close to God and asked Him to show us how to love and to expand our capacity to love every day.
I loved what Ghandi said about Christians. He said, "if it actually worked then it would be a great religion." It shed light on how we can grow as a people. Well for me it does work and it begins with me on my knees asking God for all the things I lack daily. We serve a God of abundance, goodness, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. A God of great compassion and love. A gracious God who leaves the 99 to go after the 100 every single time. Shouldn't we do the same. Share that good news with someone today! He is an Awesome God.
That is why prayer is so important. If you are in tune to God you are in tune to people who
are hurting. And you wouldn't be okay with just walking past them, scrolling by them on social media, and/or shaking your head saying, "There they go again." Some people are the heartbeat of God so say in tune to Him so you know what to do, what to say, and where to go.
And if you are having difficulty you can ask God for a greater gift of discernment. Trust me it works. If you are struggling with loving others especially God's children, you need to ask yourself some tough questions like if the greatest commandment is to love God and love others, why am I struggling? What issues do I need to lay down to rest, so I can be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit?
How come I am not doing it?
Why am I okay with ignoring those in need?
I have been given a huge capacity to love and I am not the only one. Some of it is natural but majority of it, I have to ask the Holy Spirit to intervene and make me better. Make me more compassionate and less hyper focused on my me and mine. For Him to break my heart for things that break His. I have to do this every single day. When I get tired I don't want to act right. Most days I need to go back into my "prayer closet " multiple times during the day when I completely miss the mark with those around me and asking for forgiveness.
I never want to get to a place in my life where I am okay with getting into a habit of walking by a particular group of people and ignoring them, ignoring a important message from a friend in need, or saying they don't need something because they have.....dota dota dota.
Love is an action word.
Love is a verb.
Love is a choice.
Love is patient.
Love is kind....
Who is Love?
Love is God.
Just look at Jesus. He was moved by compassion and filled with pity many times inspite of what the disciples knew or didn't know.
How much more should we?
So for the record no one should ever be embarrassed about asking God's people for help because that is what you are supposed to do. The Bible says, "Love God and love others."
Instead we should be embarrassed when we don't respond. Healthy love is a mutual where both parties benefit. I like the African saying, "God can't bless a closed fight."
The Bible says you will know them by their fruit.
What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, self control,
gentleness, kindness, and faithfulness. (one version says generosity...I love that.)
Who is the tree?
Jesus.
When you see Jesus you see goodness and grace. You see love. You see forgiveness.
The Bible also talks about extending unconditional mercy, compassion, grace, and love.
And it says if you lack any good thing pray about it. Pray continually without ceasing.
I have spent a lifetime striving for love and justice and most of the time I spent it on my
knees asking God to fill me with His fruit. Asking Him to turn me around back to Him and
asking Him to align my heart with His.
Will you do the same today?
Will you join me and asking God to forgive us and give us more sensitivity and more awareness and capacity to love others?
Will you ask God specifically what you need...Lord, please fill me with more joy cause I don't have it right now.... Lord, fill me with forgiveness....Lord, please expand my/our capacity to love others and myself/ourselves.
IJN Amen.
*P.s. I think Trump wanted to see if Americans could read...just kidding...you have to ask him.
Wix pic
Extension Activity is to see where you rank for each fruit and then pray and ask God to increase your ability on the ones you score low on. (Use scale of 0 to 5) (5 high and 0 low)
Thank you Lord for a greater capacity to love our neighbors as ourselves.
In Jesus Name
Amen.
Immediate Resources
If you are struggling or you just need someone to talk to please reach out to a pastor, therapist, counselor, elder, life coach, mentor, peer leader, and/or a friend. You don't have to do things alone.
In the cases of emergency please call 911 immediately.
Additional Resources
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