". . . God is love." (I John 4:8)
Behold what manner of LOVE the Father has bestowed on me, that I should be called a child of God (1 John 3:1)! In this the LOVE of God was manifested toward me, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that I might live through Him. In this is LOVE, not that I LOVED God, but that He LOVED me, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for my sins (1 John 4:9, 10). For God so LOVED me that He gave His only begotten Son, that if I would believe in Him, I would not perish, but would have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to me to condemn me, but that I, through Him, might be saved (John 3:16, 17). For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own LOVE toward me, in that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:7, 8)!
LOVE has been perfected in me in this: I may have boldness in the Day of Judgment, because as He is, so am I in this world. There is no fear in LOVE, but perfect LOVE casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in LOVE. I LOVE Him because He first LOVED me (1 John 4:17-19).
Therefore, having been justified by faith, I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also I have access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And, not only that, but I also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the LOVE OF GOD has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit who has been given to me (Romans 5:1-5).
Today I will LOVE the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is similar to the first . . . Today I will LOVE my neighbor as I LOVE myself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). Because of the LOVE of God in me, I will suffer long, and be kind. I will not envy, will not parade myself, and will not let myself be puffed up. I will not behave rudely, nor look out only for my own best interest. I will not be easily provoked, or think evil about others today. I will not rejoice in iniquity, but will rejoice in the truth . . . will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. LOVE NEVER FAILS (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)!
Today, by His grace, strength and power, I will LOVE my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate me, and pray for those who use me for spite, and persecute me (Matthew 5:44). In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who LOVES me. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the LOVE OF GOD, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 8:37-39)! I am LOVED, and today I will live in the now!
Behold what manner of LOVE the Father has bestowed on me, that I should be called a child of God (1 John 3:1)! In this the LOVE of God was manifested toward me, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that I might live through Him. In this is LOVE, not that I LOVED God, but that He LOVED me, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for my sins (1 John 4:9, 10). For God so LOVED me that He gave His only begotten Son, that if I would believe in Him, I would not perish, but would have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to me to condemn me, but that I, through Him, might be saved (John 3:16, 17). For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own LOVE toward me, in that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:7, 8)!
LOVE has been perfected in me in this: I may have boldness in the Day of Judgment, because as He is, so am I in this world. There is no fear in LOVE, but perfect LOVE casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in LOVE. I LOVE Him because He first LOVED me (1 John 4:17-19).
Therefore, having been justified by faith, I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also I have access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And, not only that, but I also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the LOVE OF GOD has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit who has been given to me (Romans 5:1-5).
Today I will LOVE the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is similar to the first . . . Today I will LOVE my neighbor as I LOVE myself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). Because of the LOVE of God in me, I will suffer long, and be kind. I will not envy, will not parade myself, and will not let myself be puffed up. I will not behave rudely, nor look out only for my own best interest. I will not be easily provoked, or think evil about others today. I will not rejoice in iniquity, but will rejoice in the truth . . . will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. LOVE NEVER FAILS (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)!
Today, by His grace, strength and power, I will LOVE my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate me, and pray for those who use me for spite, and persecute me (Matthew 5:44). In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who LOVES me. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the LOVE OF GOD, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 8:37-39)! I am LOVED, and today I will live in the now!
12 comments:
Valentine's Day 2010
If all goes well, this will post at 12:38...to honor the 38 years you have been telling and showing the world this too-often-obscured truth about God.
Congratulations, Bishop!
...and many more spiritual anniversaries filled with joy!
word ver: aftship
God morning beloved Universe!
Bish, congratulations on 38 years of leading others to LOVE. Wishing you a bazillion more!
All We Need Is Love
All We Need Is Love
All We Need Is Love, Love Love
Love Is All We Need.
Congrads On 38 years Here's To Many More. (A Glass Is Raised To You For ALL You Do)
Love Is All We Need
Love Is All We Need
Love Is All We Need
Agape Love.
That perfect "thing" in me that I only have to let BE...that was an empowering Word, Bishop.
I just have to let it Be? That indicates that we have a lot of power...to be able to withhold Love. To hold it back. To mask it. To operate against its nature. Dang. No wonder there is illness in the Body of Christ.
And then there's the concept of things that don't "look" like Love, so we speak to them and say "unloving"...but they are the most loving thing that could ever be done.
I'm still chewing on (paraphrased) "when CITN, the ones called out to be the gathering of the first to hear the sound, that was begun at Pentecost, becomes what it has the potential to be...a place where human beings are allowed to be, loved as they are...the Christ will be revealed.
And...the world will touch the hem of His garment...and be healed."
Simeon...I feel ya bro. I've never been more glad to be alive than today.
38 years. What would we do without you...what would the world do???
Thank you so much for your vision and truth.
Great message yesterday! Judah also rocked!
Love is the motivator, love is the instigator,
Love is the connector, reflector, respecter,
Love is what's real,
Love makes you feel...
Lovely!
The guys did a great job yesterday of breaking down the stage, real teamwork, fun to see...thanks for the pizza by the way!
Blessed day to all!
So glad 38 years ago you answered the call, keep giving us the truth. I really do like the 9am service but then I can say that about the 11am service as well. I guess I will have to continue to attend both. When you talked about men not giving their sweethearts blenders the lady behind me thought that was so funny so I turned and ask did she get one and she said yes. After service I told her husband the mall was still opened and he laughed.
YES! All things exist in The One and everything that is named has its existence in The One who is LOVE. LOVE is the very act of existing. To exist seperate from LOVE is to not exist at all. You do not "try" to exist You simply are and LOVE is the same. LOVE IS. Our part in LOVE is to simply extend the LOVE that always has been, always is and always will be. LOVE so beautiful, so intimate, so perfect...let this perfect LOVE be!
Yes HE is......and so " I " try to be, to be as he created me, in HIS image. Man, that's a lot to hold up to. Thankfully, I find it easy to love, the heart grows, there is no limit. Isn't it perfect how HE did that ~
Peace,
Northern Light
p.s. Glad we got the Anniversary wish Tweets straight. arghhh
Love is the point!
Many times we hear of ‘religious’ or ‘ really religious’ people. I really do not know what ‘religious’ means.
What first occurs to me is people who are genuinely tied into spiritually what God, Love, Jesus, Allah, Jehovah, G-D is. That sublimely, over the top , loving forgiving, tolerant, creative, incomprehensible, unlimited God. I think of people who are so completely given over to Love, forgiveness, not remembering any wrong whatsoever, knowing in the fiber of their being that every wrong/sin is as far as the East is from the West like God. One who sees every other person in the world as beautifully as God does.
People who go overboard in the natural sense of encouraging, building up and seeing God in EVERY one and Every situation, knowing God is supreme and in EVERY moment and choice and has COMPLETE authority. That there is NO equal to God.
That ‘religious’ people do everything they know to enhance and encourage every person they see to enjoy the Peace, Joy and Shamelessness (aka Righteousness) with God in every moment limitlessly, unconditionally.
Sometimes ‘religious’ is confused with immaturity. Somewhere out in the natural, ‘religious’ is confused with sex, food, and drink, very natural aspects of God’s expression. Forgetting things such as racism, judgmentalism, nationalism, sexism, and other isms that make idols of some agenda, pretending to diminish God in the minds of those that worship these things.
I do not understand these idols. I do not want to understand or smuddle my mind with them. I prefer the Love of God that exceeds our imagination ( I have a really broad imagination) and enjoying the Peace, Joy, and Righteousness (Shamelessness before God) that is provided freely by The Creator, God.
God is Love, and the maximum Love we can imagine for ourselves and everyone we can imagine is just the beginning of a glimpse of God’s love for every single one of us who has, does, and will be. Unconditional and unlimited.
Can you dig it ?
Really enjoyed reading each comment here...the insights are great...and the laughter too.
I've been dwelling a lot on LOVE since this past weekend as well.
"Let go...and let love". Love will take care of it all, love will guide...love will provide, and Love will...love!
"Ey-oh, here we go...open up the gates and let it flow" - Toby Mac, No Ordinary Love
"Let your love flow like a mountain stream" - Bellamy Brothers
Love me do now, for love is all we need...one love, one heart..let's give thanks and praise to the Lord and get on board...people of the world, join in...
"to let": -actively cause something to happen
-permit: consent to, give permission
-leave unchanged..."let it be"
word ver: ounces
hmm...How is God's love measured?
Is it in the vastness of a willingness for it to not exist at all (Gethsemane/death on cross, or something else) that it shines all the greater and revealed? In a sense LOVE died and a fire was extinguished, yet in the dark a spark was ignited by a wind that found it's way through the ashes and a fire would grow into an even greater inferno...of love.
...it only takes a spark, to get a fire going...and soon all those around will warm up to it's glowing. THAT'S HOW IT IS WITH GOD'S LOVE.
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