Worthy of Affection

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

Lord, O gracious God,

the magnalia Dei reveals Your loving-kindness.

I pray that my tears and my weeping are the result of Your mercy.

Evil stands no chance with You as our Father and Redeemer.

O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge;

save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,

rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

(Psalms 6:4b, 7:1-2, 9:1)

A Picnic Few Want to Attend.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. Colossians 3:12, 13

The poor are a gift from God;

they are who we love the most.

Christ will not ask us how much we have done,

but how much love we have put into our actions.

-Mother Teresa (LL)

Tender: soft, gentle, affectionate, sentimental.

Mercy: to be compassionate or to show kindly forbearance towards someone, regardless of if they're worth showing love or not.

Can you believe that God has tender mercies for us, and only because of His tenderness and mercifulness we have love and salvation?

>>>How will you be tenderly merciful to someone today?

Carelessness

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

-1 Corinthians 13

God wasn't kidding when He wrote this.

He meant every word.

I got to see a little of what that looks like tonight.

It's beautiful.

God Bless.

Halleluiah

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."

-Joshua 22:5

Another rugby training moment:

As I was running, I remembered one of the "verses of the month" that I am memorizing.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10

Simple and commonly used--at least that's what I thought.

While running, I became exhausted quite quickly (still working on getting back in shape!). However, with truly understanding and experiencing Christ's joy in rugby training, I was able to see that this verse is not simple, yet complex.

Understanding "The joy of the Lord":

God rejoices when we stay close to Him and away from sin.

Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 97:10

God is glorified through worship.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 29:2

The Lord delights in the faithfulness of His children.

May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say,
"The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."


Understanding through training how "the joy" can become our "strength":

The Lord rejoices in the fact that we desire to follow after Him. He rejoices in every decision we make to end our relationship with Satan, and deepen our relationship with Him. He rejoices in our worship.
Rugby, for me, is physical preparation for missions later on in life. More than that, the opportunity to play rugby is a missions field in itself. I am able to connect with all kinds of young women from all over the Northeast. Being a missionary on the rugby pitch is a huge task. Not only does practice last between 2.5 hours to 5 hours a day, but games on Saturdays require us to get up around 6 am-7am, and return anytime between 3 and 7 pm. Social activities extend the days and nights even further. This huge commitment allows a large amount of time for the Lord to be celebrated and shared! However, if the focus of Christ's joy does not remain prominent, than it leaves room for Satan to wiggle his way into my life.

Part of loving Christ means that I must love all of His creations, and push away that which Satan uses against Love.

How can we all go about discovering more about God's love that we don't understand already?

Show the wonder of your great love,

you who save by your right hand

those who take refuge in your from their foes.

-Psalm 17:7

His love endures forever.

-Psalm 136

Unfailing Love

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

-John 21:7

In context, Jesus has been resurrected and is appearing to His apostles. The apostles weren't able to catch any fish until they followed Christ's suggestion of casting their net to the right of the boat. Once this was done they caught 153 fish.

Now, in the midst of this miracle, Peter saw that a man was standing at the shore, shouting these orders to the apostles. Once another apostle acknowledged that it was Jesus standing before them, Peter jumped ship to swim and greet Him.

When I read this passage, my heart becomes filled with such joy. Peter, a man not unlike the rest of us, is so excited to see His Savior that he couldn't even wait until the boat reached the shore, he had to jump out and swim as fast as he could towards his Best Friend.

In my mind, the image of the bride, who just caught glimpse of her Beautiful Bridgegroom takes precedence. Overjoyed and overwhelmed with His Majesty and Presence, the bride jumps ship to get closer to Him as fast as she possibly can. What Love!

Do you jump ship at the very sight of your Husband, Father, Lord--just to be in His presence and His arms that much sooner?

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

-John 21:15

Go Together

What does being Blood related mean?

We love one another, no matter what.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth

for a sincere brotherly love,

love one another earnestly, from a pure heart,

1 Peter 1:22

We would die for one another.

Greater love has no one than this,

that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

We encourage one another in everything we do.

And let us consider how to stir up one another

to love and good works

Hebrews 10:24

We give up whatever we have,

so that our brothers may have the same.

All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own,

but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:32

We suffer for Him together.

If one part suffers,

every part suffers with it;

if one part is honored,

every part rejoices with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26

We always have each other's back.

and all ate the same spiritual food,

and all drank the same spiritual drink.

For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them,

and the Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:3-4

We always go out of our way to support one another.

But encourage one another daily...

Hebrews 3:13

We guide one another in His Light.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness,

and walks in darkness,

and does not know where he is going because

the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:11

This perfect kind of love creates an unbreakable bond.

One that lasts for eternity, created by an eternal Being.

And all over these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14

Through the Blood of Love Himself.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

Romas 5:8

Fireflies

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Something to ponder:

What are the dangers of saying "No" to Christ?

This is something that I have most recently been stuck on. I feel that I haven't been saying "Yes!" to Christ enough. There's a lack of service, kindness, and direction, even at the very beginning of my Christmas break (which started Dec 23 [today]). Satan got to me and made me feel as if Christ was so far away. I then remembered that sweet poem, Footprints in the Sand. Christ will never be far from us. In fact, He is always right by our side.

For you, what are the dangers of saying "No"? How can we encourage one another to get closer to Christ, and say "Yes!" to Him with absolutely everything we have?

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:8

All My Heart

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

-Deuteronomy 6:5

So recently, a couple of my friends and I have been talking about "physical boundaries" in romantic relationships. Through various discussions I've come to a conclusion. God is a God of yes, not of no. God is not a God of boundaries, in fact He's a God of no bounds.

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome,

-1 John 5:3

These "boundaries" that we have fabricated (i.e. We can kiss, but no making out. Or, we can do anything, as long as it's not "sex") through reading the gospels and Leviticus, so on and so forth, are created so that as Christians, we can approach them without any guilt. Going as far as we can before we "fall off the cliff," so to speak.

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD

your God ask of you but to fear

the LORD your God,

to walk in all his ways,

to love him, to serve the LORD your God

with all your heart and with all your soul,

-Deuteronomy 10:12

I say let there be no boundaries. Have no boundaries in loving Christ, and serving Him through your partner. Have Christ be the complete focus of your relationship. You are in this relationship with the only person on Earth that you have found to be the most Christ-like. If you create these boundaries that make you want to approach them more and more, as you get closer spiritually and emotionally to your partner, what kind of respect and love are you using towards Christ---who dwells in your partner?

This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son

into the world that we might live through him.

-1 John 4:9

This is what I'm not saying: to be physical and ignore Christ's commands. No one should be doing this. I'm saying, that if you must set a physical boundary in the relationship, you might be going into the relationship at the wrong angle. Your goal should be to glorify Christ with your purity. To love Him through your partner, by not tainting or destroying the temple that holds His Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that your body is a temple

of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,

whom you have received from God?

You are not your own;

-1 Corinthians 6:19

Everyone is convicted about certain things they will or will not be partaking in during the relationship, but where's the focus? What things should you be doing in the relationship? You should be serving and loving Christ, with no bounds. No boundaries. Zero. Get rid of anything in the relationship if they cause you to create boundaries on how much you can be loving Christ during the relationship. If putting a boundary on/around what you should be doing physically in a relationship is causing you to create boundaries on how much you can love Him, then get rid of being physical in a relationship. Glorify Him with everything that you have. That should be our focus.

I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

-2 Corinthians 7:4

Tell Me

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

-Romans 8:35

A Love Poem:

Stop trying to prove your love to me.

I love you anyway.

I called you when you were a sinner.

I call you now that you remain one.

Do not submit to Satan,

But to the Lord, God, who Loves you with all of His Being.

For I know your heart,

And I love you anyway.

Give Me your heart,

And I will give you the desires of My Heart.

Be still in Me,

and I will show you The Way.

No matter what you do,

I will love you anyway.

I weep for you,

And desire you.

My love knows no bounds.

My passion for you reaches farther than My hands that stretch from the east to the west.

I created your heart, knowing that you will deny me.

But I love you anyway.

I suffered for your loss.

I died for My beloved children.

I made you in My Image.

Understanding that you will reject Me, I crafted you perfectly, despite.

For I love you, every way.

And I will never stop loving you, in any way.

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

-Colossians 2:2

You and I

My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.

-Proverbs 2:1-5

"You just can't understand!"

Sometimes when people tell us that we can't and don't understand, it doesn't necessarily mean that we haven't gone through whatever event in their lives that they're having problems with, and thus we have no possible way of conceiving what has happened to them. It typically means that we aren't being understanding.

Through prayer, loving His children, and reading His Text we may be able to become understanding. However, if we refuse to see through "a sinners eyes," (We're all sinners--this we know. However, if we don't see through the eyes of those who ask us for help, what help can we be?), how can we truly see the human person that we are. So many times we are quick to judge, and demand that other Christians are to be as Jesus is, but fact is, is that we are humans working to be like Jesus. We will fall, and we have to be understanding towards others weaknesses--so that we may build one another up in love!

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path,

so that our ministry will not be discredited.

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;

in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

in purity, understanding, patience and kindness;

in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God;

with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

-2 Corinthians 6:3-7

Christ gave us all specific strengths and weaknesses, so that we may help connect with one another in community--in unity. We cannot become unified if we decide to let those who are struggling die off. We all struggle! Satan loves to get at all of us. We must all stand strong with one another in His name, so as to overcome all the evils of this world.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

-Mark 12:30-34

I'll Love You So

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

-Galatians 5:13-15

This is just silliness really, but here are some pictures that portray more reasons why not to be quick to judge!

This may in fact look like I have murdered someone in a bathtub.

With my bare hands.

Truth: I dyed Julie's hair Cinnaberry.

This may appear to be an "illiterate jock."

Truth: I just make faces. I can't help it.

(And my GPA appears to be fine, thank you.)

Just because I play sports, does not mean that my intelligence

is any less than the "average college student's",

or even the above average!

This may appear to be a group of

three drunk high school students at prom.

Truth: We are straightedge.

Our school never had prom (we're not allowed to dance).

We had a banquet where we dressed up and ate food.

And it was fantastic!

There are many more serious reasons as to why we should not judge one another, however, judging can be found in the "smaller" things as well. Let us all help one another, so that we may purify our hearts. We must learn to see one another as Christ sees us!

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

-1 Peter 1:22

White Lights

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 

-Matthew 8:25, 26

Even in the midst of what appears to be a somber, or scary occasion, Christ is there. No only is He there, loving you, calling out your name, He is beside you, that you may Have all confidence in Him, that He will never leave you. Even when the things that tempt us the most, appear to be extremely present in our lives; when we see and hear the waves come crashing, when we feel the winds start to blow us over, Christ is there to calm the storm. 

I was put in a similar situation this morning at breakfast. After a lovely morning at the most amazing church in the capital district (not that I'm biased or anything..!), a text message from a dear friend of mine caused a great tempest to arise on the sea. However, Christ's message this morning in  church was to love one another no matter what. Not to love in order to avoid sin (actions from anger, jealousy, depression, etc.), but in order to truly love them. Just as Christ put on my heart last night with the previous blog, He was calling me to live out His Message today.

so we, though many, are one body in Christ,

and individually members one of another.

-Romans 12:5

I told him I love him. That he will forever be my brother, and that no matter what he may do, I love him. 

Most importantly, Christ loves Him. I pray that my reminder of humanly, brotherly/sisterly love, was a great reminder of True Love. (Amen.)

I pray for those who are following after Christ's heart, for you to not be disgruntled when a brother or sister falls, but that you stay strong, and truly love your brother and sisters---no matter what. 

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the res of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you...

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

-1 Peter 4:1-4, 7-10

Undercover

If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

-Romans 8:17b, 18

Greetings and God Bless,

Men and women: I would like to let you know, that no matter what you are doing this Halloween night, Christ loves you. I think that far too many times, we don't let each other know how much we truly love one another. I challenge you, whether it's tonight or any other night, let someone know how much you love them. 

Christ's love is undefinable. Christ loves with no conditions. We love saying "I will love you, but if you do this...or if you thought this way about this...if you have ever done this...well, then I don't know if I could love you." Christ says, "I have loved you with an ever lasting love (Jer 31:3)... But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear... (Matt 10:30, 31a) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends (John 15:13)." 

Christ knows every single thing you have ever thought, He has seen every single thing that you have ever done, and Christ will love you forever, no matter what. Under all circumstances, all appearances, all predicaments.

About an hour ago, I was out trying to find my friend here on campus. I didn't end up finding him, but instead, I found my Best Friend. Everyone got dressed up for tonight's celebrations, which at first made me cringe. However, I realized that everyone gets dressed up, puts on a mask, or paints over his or her face when they feel they need to cover a part of their life, in order to be adored. We get so lost in finding love, that we become foolish. Whether it's dressing up for Halloween, hiding behind our knowledge, or hiding behind our attitudes, we hide because we're afraid. What if just one person reached out, and showed their love for you? Would you stop hiding, and realize that no matter what, Goodness exists? Not only that It exists, but that It wants to love you just as much as you want to love It?

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, 

since love covers a multitude of sins.

-1 Peter 4:8

The Person who sees your every action, your every thought, and knows when you're trying to lie to Him, is He who loves you the most. He tries to talk to you, romance you, embrace you, and inform you everyday. Why refrain from a love so Pure?

We need to remind our brothers and sisters of His perfect love. How? By loving everyone as Christ has loved us. Though our bodies and our minds may fail in understanding and celebrating His true grace, God is the strength of our hearts and our portions forever. (paraphrase of Psalm 73:26) 

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

-1 Peter 1:22, 23