Being an Imitator of God
Being a Christian isn't about making a weekly trip to church. We need to develop the character of God so others can actually see Jesus working in a practical way.
Ephesians 5:1 says that we are to be imitators of God. Unfortunately, saying it is a lot easier than actually doing it. So many times we do things that don't reflect God at all. It's easy to get discouraged, give up on and condemn ourselves when we fall short.
Thankfully, God isn't bothered that we haven't arrived yet. He knows we're only human. He knows that we're not going to instantly, perfectly mirror Him overnight, but he does want us to continue growing.
We're not meant to live stagnant lives, never moving forward in our faith. Where's the adventure in that? We need to be able to look back on our life and see some changes taking place.
I used to be a Pharisee. I think I could have been the chief of Pharisees. I had a real religious act going on, but I wasn't really doing anything to truly "imitate" God. At some point, God led me to ask myself: "What am I doing to be more like God? Am I actually helping anybody? Am I just in this thing so God will make my life better?"
When we're in a place of questioning, that's the best place to be. It's a place of constantly striving toward being more like Christ.
As you're striving, don't fall into the trap of perfectionism and self-condemnation. We all make mistakes but the important thing is to be willing to take steps every day toward being more like God.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Daily Devotion From Joyce Meyer
God's Agape Love
The Bible talks about various kinds of love. There's the Greek word "phileo," which means friendship or tender affection. Then there's "eros," which is the passionate love we feel for a lover. But there's a third kind, a higher kind of love.
"Agape" is the kind of love God has toward His Son and the human race. It's a love that sacrifices, the love that we see in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son .. "(NIV).
There are so many scriptures on this topic. It's really something you should sit down and study personally. Another scripture that teaches the concept of agape love is Matthew 5:44. It tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
It's not difficult to pray for people who are good to you. But it does stretch you to pray for people who have wounded you. It's easy to hang out with your friends at church. But it's harder to seek out the person who looks like they're miserable and alone and just listen to them for awhile. That's agape love. It's sacrificing your comfort to do what's righteous.
You can 'agape love' people by being patient with them, by being understanding with them, by saying anything when you could. As humans, we are inherently selfish, constantly asking, "What about me?" It's time to declare war on selfishness with the power of agape love.
It's time to be good and loving to people on purpose as we study and understand what scripture says about love. And let the agape love of God in you overflow to others.
The Bible talks about various kinds of love. There's the Greek word "phileo," which means friendship or tender affection. Then there's "eros," which is the passionate love we feel for a lover. But there's a third kind, a higher kind of love.
"Agape" is the kind of love God has toward His Son and the human race. It's a love that sacrifices, the love that we see in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son .. "(NIV).
There are so many scriptures on this topic. It's really something you should sit down and study personally. Another scripture that teaches the concept of agape love is Matthew 5:44. It tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
It's not difficult to pray for people who are good to you. But it does stretch you to pray for people who have wounded you. It's easy to hang out with your friends at church. But it's harder to seek out the person who looks like they're miserable and alone and just listen to them for awhile. That's agape love. It's sacrificing your comfort to do what's righteous.
You can 'agape love' people by being patient with them, by being understanding with them, by saying anything when you could. As humans, we are inherently selfish, constantly asking, "What about me?" It's time to declare war on selfishness with the power of agape love.
It's time to be good and loving to people on purpose as we study and understand what scripture says about love. And let the agape love of God in you overflow to others.
"Sunday Worship"
Greetings everyone ... Hope you all have had a wonderful day and weekend. I'm feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I attended service today at St. James United Methodist Church (Alpharetta, Ga) and I must say the presence of the Lord was there. Not only that, but the Reverend and the members are so welcoming and friendly. I didn't feel like I was overlooked, because they surely acknowledged the visitors and also called upon me after service to offer me a church home and provide information about the festivities they offer. In fact they have vocational bible school going on all next week and I will surely be in attendance. I really enjoyed the sermon and I made notes of somethings that I wish to share with you.
Reverend McQueen delivered a message with metaphors of a baseball game. 3 strikes in baseball means your out (Which is what the devil would tell you, but God says different)
... I went to hear a word and that's just what I received.
He says,
"God will interrupt you in your pursuit of happiness to wake you up and remind you to refocus."
"There's got to be some pain in order to get to your break through.
"My best days are ahead of me and not behind me"
"God will place you in the wilderness to prepare you for the battle"
"When God give you vision, he also gives you provision"
Reverend McQueen delivered a message with metaphors of a baseball game. 3 strikes in baseball means your out (Which is what the devil would tell you, but God says different)
... I went to hear a word and that's just what I received.
He says,
"God will interrupt you in your pursuit of happiness to wake you up and remind you to refocus."
"There's got to be some pain in order to get to your break through.
"My best days are ahead of me and not behind me"
"God will place you in the wilderness to prepare you for the battle"
"When God give you vision, he also gives you provision"
Saturday, June 2, 2012
The $1.00 menu :)
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What's that 4 letter word?
.JPG) |
| All we need is LOVE |
What's 4 letters, unexplainable; yet there's a definition for it? It makes some people feel happy, it makes some people feel sad. It can be the best gift, or the worst curse. Many have tried to explain it; yet it still remains unexplainable for some. It's called LOVE.
People sing about it, people cry about it, people lust about it, and people get hurt by it. How ironic that 1 of the best things that you can do, can also be the hardest thing for you to do. From birth we are loved and throughout life we are loved. I am astonded of the fact that we love because God first loved us. We are created in a remarkable image, yet we can make the image appear so ugly at times.
1 John 4:16-18 says "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
That's something to think about .. God says 1 thing and man says another ... Wikipedia gives you a definition ...
love/ləv/
| Noun: |
| |
| Verb: |
| |
| Synonyms: |
noun. affection - fondness - darling - passion
verb. like - be fond of - fancy - adore
| |
But what do you think of it ... Whats your definition of LOVE??
Friday, June 1, 2012
Daily Devotion From Joyce Meyer
Social Justice
It's simply wrong to see or hear of someone in need and do absolutely nothing. Let me explain ...
Awhile ago, the Lord revealed to me just how strongly He feels about wanting me to work for justice for the oppressed. It's part of His calling for all in the body of Christ. He's been looking for people to help the fatherless, the widows, the oppressed, the poor, the lonely and forgotten since He gave the law in Old Testament times.
Speaking through Moses, He said, " You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child" (Exodus 22:22 AMP). God is not partial, "He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger or temporary resident and gives him food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:18 AMP). God told the people that if they fed the strangers, the widows and the fatherless, He would bless the work of their hands (see Deuteronomy 14:29).
Some of the most lonely and forgotten people in the world today are the girls who have been forced into prostitution in order to survive, the orphan boy in Africa whose parents have died of AIDS, the prisoner who spends day after day alone in a prison cell,the homeless man living on the streets ... there are plenty of people in need out there.
This can all seem overwhelming, and you might be thinking, "What can I do about this?' God has taught me that while I cannot solve everything, if I relieve the suffering of just one person, I am making a difference.
Please don't think that what you have to give isn't enough. The hurting, broken, hungry and homeless are all around. Will you help them today?
It's simply wrong to see or hear of someone in need and do absolutely nothing. Let me explain ...
Awhile ago, the Lord revealed to me just how strongly He feels about wanting me to work for justice for the oppressed. It's part of His calling for all in the body of Christ. He's been looking for people to help the fatherless, the widows, the oppressed, the poor, the lonely and forgotten since He gave the law in Old Testament times.
Speaking through Moses, He said, " You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child" (Exodus 22:22 AMP). God is not partial, "He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger or temporary resident and gives him food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:18 AMP). God told the people that if they fed the strangers, the widows and the fatherless, He would bless the work of their hands (see Deuteronomy 14:29).
Some of the most lonely and forgotten people in the world today are the girls who have been forced into prostitution in order to survive, the orphan boy in Africa whose parents have died of AIDS, the prisoner who spends day after day alone in a prison cell,the homeless man living on the streets ... there are plenty of people in need out there.
This can all seem overwhelming, and you might be thinking, "What can I do about this?' God has taught me that while I cannot solve everything, if I relieve the suffering of just one person, I am making a difference.
Please don't think that what you have to give isn't enough. The hurting, broken, hungry and homeless are all around. Will you help them today?
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