365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 125 & 126

Our Easter message from our pastor was so simple and yet had so much meaning in our world today. With our busyness and all the complications that come our way in life, it can be difficult to remember that our faith is not busy or complicated but simple. Our pastor quoted from a well-know theologian Carl Bart who was asked if you had to just say one thing about Christianity what would it be? He started to sing the beloved song
“Jesus Loves Me This I Know”. This was in my recent class that I took on Christian counseling. Many of us get wrapped up in the complexities of life and religion. To stay connected to the Lord and really grow we have to be centered in that original belief of Jesus loves me, this I know. I have said this before and will say it again and again because it is the truth. All is because of one thing, love. He loves you, me, the gunmen who slays children, the husband addicted to porn, the woman wrapped up in her self, the lonely, hurt and poor. He loves us all no matter what we do and all we have to do is believe in him to have all the sins of our past, present and our future washed away. Keep your child-like faith in knowing that Jesus loves you.

1John 4:13-16 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 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 him.

365 Days of Praise Challeng-Day 314

As I watched the presidential debate last night, there was really one thing that stood out to me. Now, let me preface this with the fact that this is my opionion and we each will have our own opinions and that is the way God intended it to be. The phrase, said by Gov. Romney a few times "hurting people" is really what stood out to me. What I heard was a man with compassion for the people in this country that are hurting because they lost their job and possibly their home; for those that can't afford the high costs of medical insurance and for people that just want to be free of the government telling them what to do. If we look to the Word of God as we should for everything, we will see a good example of how government should be working. God kept it simple and straightforward. Our government is such a mess of laws, regulations and politicians trying to add more to them that it is no wonder people don't know they have actually broken any law when they get the bill in the mail or the police come to their door. Government was not intended to rule over our lives in such a way. God is our authority and Jesus is our King. In our bible study last evening, a question from one of the people attending was brought up about, are we living in a state of contentment, "I will stay in my comfort zone", or apathy because we live in a country where we aren't being persecuted always and every time we speak up about Jesus and our Almighty God. The answer is yes. Yes, we are sticking with our contented living, keeping in our comfort zone and not standing up and proclaiming the truth. What we need are shinning examples of compassion and giving to stand up and stand out! We don't need the government to help those hurting people, we have the power within us by the Holy Spirit to help the poor, sick and needy. As believers in Jesus Christ, it is our calling and purpose to live our lives like Jesus lived his with compassion and generocity, with mercy and with lots and lots of love. Does and can love conquer all things? Jesus was the embodiment of God's love for us and he conquered death not just for himself but for all of us. Love has already conquered. My prayer is we all can do better and better at living that out each day. Live and love like there is no tomorrow!

1 John 4:18 (KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear:because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.