 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." - John 13:34 It sound simple, right? Just love each other. When we find ourselves in deep relationships, when we see each others' flaws, that is when love is necessary. Without love our friendships fall into petty bickering and eventually dissolve. Jesus' command, as simple as it is, might just be the most helpful thing we can do.
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no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has known what god has prepared for those who love him3/30/2020  But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9 I don't know about you, but I can imagine quite a lot, especially when it comes to my future. How crazy is it that God has an even bigger plan than me? It helps me to focus on my part of this verse. It's my job to love Go. It's his work to prepare the plan.  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." - John 11:25 Jesus makes a distinction in this teaching between resurrection and life. It's interesting that our culture has put so much empahsis on the resurrection and so little on life. We hear a lot about what happens after we die, but not as much on how we should live. Think today how Jesus changes your life right now.  "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." - Proverbs 16:24 We use words all day. They fill our thoughts and shape our repsonses to all the people we meet. They can help us connect with others, or they can be used to tear us apart. Make sure today to use your words like honey, to sweeten the lives of others.  But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26 It's easy to forget in this world that through God, we aren't liminted in the ways we often accept as reality. Looking at a maple seed, we wouldn't dream that it could become such a beautiful tree. How much energy would you guess you've wasted telling yourself, " I can't." Isn't it time to start telling yourself something different: "Through God, I can!"  "From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." - Psalm 61:2 When we find ourselves in those moments of anxiety., white knuckling it through life, it helps to know that there is something bigger in this world. Someone actually. Someone who is greater than us who has a good and perfect plan for us. It never hurts to let yourself be led to that person. Will you today?  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is it own trouble." - Matthew 6:34 We live in the present. At least until time travel is invented, we have no choice. So why should we let the past or the future occupy so much for our thoughts? It just doesn't make send. Try today to let your thought stay with you in the present.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." - Matthew 5:8 We all want to see God, right? So shy is it that the pure in heart get to? It might have something to do with all those things in our lives that crowd out our awareness. Have you ever had a conversation with someone while they were distracted? Maybe while they were checking their phone. Did you feel like they were really seeing you? Take some time today to look for God. You'll find him.  "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." - Jeremiah 33:3 It's easy for us to feel like God doesn't hear us. Sometimes it seems like all our prayers are just bouncing off the ceilings and falling back down to us. Despite those feelings, God doesn't screen our calls. He answers every one. Listen for the hidden things God is saying to you today. |
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