The Love Series (evident)

Marriage is a remarkable thing. I've come to realize that in the marital relationship love must be shown in a variety of ways. It should be vocal yes, but it should also be shown physically. It is not enough to tell my wife I love her, but I should also show her with physical touch. If we say we love Christ than their should be evidence in every relationship that we encounter. If I tell my kids I love them but never hug them or play with them. I am simply making noise without any real evidence. Jesus said by this all will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another. The greatest evidence that Jesus Christ loves you and I was shown on the cross. He demonstrated his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners he died for us. Since Jesus had action to back up that love than so should we. My prayer is that we would be a people who would put legs to our words. That we would show with actions that which we proclaim!!!!

Be Faithful!!!

Someone has said that, "Faithfulness is remaining true to what God has called you to do." Oh, how God is looking for a people who are not perfect, but willing. God wants faithful people not sinless people. Jesus asked a question in Math 24:45, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant? In Math 25:21 he said, "Well done good and faithful servant." In Luke 16:10 he said, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." I have found that in all my years in ministry that some people are not even faithful in the little things. God wants people who can see the need and get the job done. Not just talk about it, but do it. In the book of Revelation we are told that the words that were given to John were, "faithful and true." We know that this could be spoken of by our Lord as well. He is a God who is faithful and true. But I wonder if that could be said of us? Can people say that we are a people who are faithful and true? Can people say that our words are faithful and true? Can people say that our actions are faithful and true? As Christians we sometimes give too many excuses of why we can't do something for the Lord. Greg Laurie has said that, "an excuse is a skin of reason stuffed with a lie." I think that is so true. God help us to be a people who stop giving their sorry excuses, and start serving God like never before. God help us to find out what God has called us to do. And step out in faith and start doing that thing to the best of our ability, and for the glory of God!"

The Love Series (vocal)

The word love is sometimes a four letter word that people do not want to vocalize. In a marital relationship it is important to not only show your spouse love with actions, but to also vocalize that love with words. Years ago prior to my conversion. I cannot recall ever telling my mom and dad that I loved them. When I became a follower of Jesus Christ the Lord pressed upon my heart that i needed to share the love of Christ with them vocally. It was hard at first, and I didn't know how they would respond. But interestingly enough as soon as I vocalized the love, surprisingly they vocalized it back. This was not only the first time that I told them that I loved them but also the first time that they ever told me that they loved me. Paul said that we should, "let our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought answer each one." Col 4:6 Can you imagine how many lives we would impact if we did this? Can you imagine how much God would bless our marriages? Can you imagine a world touched by the love of Christ? This is what God's love is all about!

The Love Series (others centered)

I think if there is one thing that kills our Christian love, it's gotta be selfishness. Selfishness quenches and sometimes extinguishes the fire of God's love in our lives. Someone has said that, "Selfishness is putting your self first while stepping on another." When Paul was writing to the Philippians he told them, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Phil 2:3, 4 Oh, how important it is to put God first, others second, and ourselves last. Imagine how much of an impact we would have on the world? We would literally turn the world up side down. God in his great love for us was willing to send His only begotten Son to the world to die on the cross for us. That was love in the greatest of ways. God wants us to show that same kind of love. A love that is marked with humility and obedience. God help us, to be a Church who is willing to put others before our own lives. If we do this, we will no doubt show the God kind of love to the world around us.

The Love Series (lasting)

Many people today are looking for love in all the wrong places. They look to money, fame, relationships in an attempt to find lasting happiness, or lasting love. The problem with that is that it doesn't last. It is only a temporary fix to an even bigger problem. God's love is a lot different than our love. Love that comes from man is often based on what someone does for you. Most people will love as long as someone is giving them something in return. God's love is the opposite. God's love is not dependent on what we do, but rather what he did. Romans 5:8 says that, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Love that is lasting has to start with God. Because God is love. God's agape love is sacrificial and the kind of love that we need in our life.