being called a Communist...

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist." -Dom Helder Camara

This quote by the Archbishop of Brazil is one I use often, and one that has gotten me into trouble on a regular basis. But, it is a powerful statement that Christians need to both understand and to take to heart.

Feeding the poor is an act of compassion. It is surely an act and even a means of grace according to John Wesley. But, feeding the poor is not enough. Feeding the poor is addressing the symptom and not the sickness.

Addressing the cause of the poor being hungry gets at the root of the problem. This is a radical approach to ending hunger. This is eliminating the root cause of the issue. It addresses systems and power. It is a matter of justice and not just charity at this level.

If asking why the poor are hungry causes me to be labeled a Communist I am fine with that. In fact, more believers in Christ need to work hard enough on behalf of the poor and hungry to be so labeled.

Demonstrating the love of Christ is supposed to be radical. It demonstrates a faithfulness to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ that is far more glorifying to His Kingdom than just playing church.

spiritual fearlessness

"Fearlessness is the first requisite of spirituality. Cowards can never be moral." - Mohandas K. Gandhi.

Perfect love casts out fear according to the writer of the First Letter of John. The more love we receive from God the less we should fear. The deeper our spirituality the more fearless we should become. How fearless are you?

Seventy Years of Faithfulness!

Seventy years is a long time. And for the past 70 years Forest Road United Methodist Church has provided a beacon of hope in our community. That is worthy of celebration, and that is what we are doing this morning.Today is HOMECOMING SUNDAY!

There is great difficulty in attempting to capture 70 years of memories in a single day. That, however, is what we are trying to do. We are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the wonderful history of our congregation.

Months of work and effort have gone into making this day special for all those attending. Our festivities actually began last night with a delightful Dinner at Charly's Restuarant. There were 33 of us who had a delicious meal while sharing stories and memories.

That brings us to today. And what a day it is going to be.

At 10 am we begin with a social hour: more stories, more shared memories with a history video and tables of photos and historical items.

Our 11 am worship will feature special music and our own District Superintendent, the Rev. Scott Davis, preaching. Worship will be followed by one of our memorably delicious fellowship meals.

But, that's not all. After our meal we will have a great afternoon of special music with the Fort Hill UMC Bell Ringers and several other exceptionally talented artists, some well known and fondly remembered as past members of our congregation.

Today is Homecoming Sunday! Join us as we celebrate 70 years of faithfulness!

just shine

"It is better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining; they just shine." - Dwight L. Moody

Moody, the great 19th century evangelist, nails it. What is important is not what we say. That counts for little.

What is supremely critical, however, is how we live. The sermon most people will see is how we live. Most of the time our lifestyle says far more about our faithfulness to the Gospel than anything we might say about our beliefs.

Love. Live in love, and let that love shine out into the darkness. The light of that love will bring more into a safe harbor than any noise we will ever make.

the lesser of two evils

Numerous times during this Presidential campaign season I have heard the statement that neither of the two leading candidates are worthy of the office of President of the United States. I have been told that both candidates have serious, even major, flaws in their character or their personality that should disqualify them to hold our nation's highest office.

Those statements usually precede a remark that this year we will be voting for the lesser of two evils. That so many people feel this way is a truly sad state of affairs. And it points out the deepening sense of doubt and alienation so many of us feel about the leadership and governance of our country.

It's a good time to be reminded of the words of the immortal Jerry Garcia. He wrote,

"Choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil."

Whoever we choose to support for the next leader of our nation, we need to do so prayerfully. We need to measure the words and actions of all the candidates against their faithfulness to scriptural holiness and a lifestyle of love.

Before we go to the polls in November it may be again time to ask "What would Jesus do?"

President Dwight D. Eisenhower once stated a profound truth that bears repeating;

"This world of ours...must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect."

These are words we again need to hear and take to heart. Perfect love casts our fear.

As disciples of the man from Nazareth, we are called to live in love, and not in fear. Loving each other as we have first been loved leads to the mutual trust and respect that eradicates hatred.

it's a fact

Perfect love casts out fear. That is not a promise. It is a fact.

And in a world where we see fear and mistrust growing every day, it is a fact to which we need to pay more attention.

When we live in fear we are denying that God is in control. If a God who loved the world enough to give his Son so that all could be saved is in control, well, why are we afraid? What do we have to fear if God loves us?

Fear is just another tool in the devil's toolkit. It is definitely a big one, but we just need to understand that love casts out fear.

Trust in God's love. Extend that love to all you meet. Live in that love.

Surround yourself in God's perfect love, for perfect love casts out fear.

Faith Changes Everything

in distressing disguise

If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not that God didn't care for them, but because you and I didn't give, were not an instrument in the hands of God, to give them that bread, that clothing; because we did not recognize him, when once more the Christ came in distressing disguise, in the hungry man, in the lonely man, in the homeless child, and seeking for shelter. - Mother Teresa

Put on the Armor of God by: Mike Bennett

http://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/armor-of-god/

In our war with Satan, his society and our human weaknesses, we need spiritual help. God provides the powerful armor we need for protection—and victory!

By Mike Bennett

The Bible tells us we are in a war, and our adversary, Satan the devil, is bent on destroying us. The apostle Paul warns us to beware of Satan’s devices and tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11). How can we defend ourselves from his stealthy and deadly attacks?

Paul addressed this in Ephesians 6:10-20 where he talks about putting on the whole armor of God. Ephesians was one of Paul’s letters written from prison. During Paul’s time in prison he obviously became well acquainted with the armor worn and carried by his captors in the Roman army. Following Isaiah’s lead (Isaiah 59:17), Paul drew a powerful comparison between a soldier’s armor and the spiritual armor of God.

Paul wrote: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (verse 10).

You see, we don’t have to be discouraged by Satan’s devices or by his power and stealth. We aren’t in this battle alone. We have access to the greatest power in the universe!

Verse 11 continues: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

This is a comprehensive defense strategy, and we have to pay attention to all parts of this armor God offers. But if we do, we will be able to withstand Satan’s attacks.

Spiritual battles

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (verse 12).

The Bible describes unseen spiritual battles, such as the titanic battle at the end of the age that the apostle John witnessed: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was any place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:7-9).

All this is happening behind the scenes in the spiritual world, but it has great influence over the physical world. Satan and the demons are invisible, and he is a master of camouflage. He is able to convince people that he doesn’t exist, and he is able to sway society and suggest wrong thoughts to us without our even realizing he is there.

Paul continued in Ephesians 6:13: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

What does he mean, “to stand”? He was emphasizing that with God’s help, we will be able to hold the line, to not retreat, to not give up an inch of God’s territory.

Now Paul starts to list the individual elements of this spiritual armor.

A belt was the first piece of equipment put on, and it secures all the other pieces of our armor. Wearing the belt showed that the soldier was ready for action, since he would only loosen his belt when he went off duty.

Truth should surround us like a belt. Knowing God’s truth is the surefire antidote to Satan’s lies and deception. And to be truly ready for the battle, we must be completely truthful ourselves in our inner being, like our Creator.

Next, Paul tells us to “put on the breastplate of righteousness.”

Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to Satan’s attacks. To be righteous is first of all to repent and be forgiven of our sins, and then to do what is right in God’s eyes. Psalm 119:172 tells us that God’s commandments are righteousness. So to be righteous is to obey God’s laws of love.

Isaiah 59:17 says that God Himself puts on righteousness as a breastplate! This may be part of what inspired Paul to use this analogy. Isaiah 59 starts by explaining that “your iniquities have separated you from your God” (verse 2). Iniquity is the opposite of righteousness, so when we give in to sin without repenting, we are removing our breastplate and leaving ourselves open to more of Satan’s attacks.

Shoes might not be the most exciting piece of armor, but the Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary highlights their importance:

“The military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.”

The word “preparation,” denoting readiness, reminds us that we are to be eager to preach the gospel of peace. The Church of God is sent to announce the good news of God’s Kingdom, which will spread His way of peace around the whole world. Having our spiritual shoes on, we will be ready to spread the news to others.

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible tells us that the sandals of the Roman soldier “often were fitted with nails, or armed with spikes, to make the hold firm in the ground.” God’s good news and our mission—our marching orders—to preach it serve as our firm foundation.

When our faith in God’s power and love is strong, it is impossible for Satan to break through our shield and land a blow. Faith means more than just believing that God exists, of course. It includes a firm belief that everything God does is truly for our good. Also, faith is the absolute conviction that God will always do what He has promised (Romans 4:18-21).

Faith protects us in many ways. Think about Daniel in the lion’s den. Faith was like a force field to protect Daniel from those vicious teeth! AndShadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were protected from the fiery furnace! Faith is powerful and protects us not only from those physical dangers, but from the spiritual temptations and dangers.

The shield of faith is not just for personal protection. The Roman soldiers had a strategy of joining their shields together. If we join our shields—that is, strengthen each other with our faith, building up and serving as we are able—we will be able to take on any challenge.

We can receive tremendous hope and comfort by focusing on the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ gave to save us and the wonderful Kingdom that is the goal of our salvation. This hope protects our minds from the discouragement and despair in this world.

The sword of the Spirit, like the Roman gladius, can also help us to conquer all our enemies, including that most difficult one, our entrenched human weaknesses. Hebrews 4:12 explains: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Remember how Jesus used the Word of God to defeat Satan (Matthew 4:1-10)? Christ used scripture quotes three times. He brought to mind the scriptures that dealt with the situation, that showed what He should do and that strengthened His resolve. And so should we.

Our sword won’t stay sharp on its own. We must continually sharpen it with regular and focused Bible study.

Paul ends this section encouraging us to pray fervently for ourselves, for each other and for the work of the Church.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

The Church, and each of us individually, moves forward on our knees. Praying reminds us of the battle, reminds us of the source of our strength and defense, and reminds God that we are fully committed to following Him as obedient and faithful soldiers. Prayer and Bible study are the most powerful tools for combating Satan’s weapons.

When we put on this whole armor of God, we will be prepared for Satan’s attempts to attack us with pride, envy, lust for forbidden pleasures, itching ears, disappointment, discouragement, doubt or division—or any other tricks he may use.

There is so much more we can learn from this powerful list of defenses God makes available to us. Hopefully, this article has whetted your appetite to study this important subject in more detail. Make it a goal to study the armor of God in greater depth.

Remember, we’re at war. Let’s be alert to Satan’s devices, and let’s put on the whole armor of God!

Rejoicing

Trust God!

Mother's Day

Ann M. Jarvis first suggested the national observance of an annual day to honor all mothers. On May 10, 1908 she gave a carnation (her mother's favorite flower) to all who attended. The observance quickly gain wide popularity, and was being observed in a number of large cities in the United States.

On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. It was established as a time of "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.

Faith, Hope, Love

Jesus Blood Never Failed Me!

The Vision Preached By: Ray Buchanan

Part 1

Part 2

Join Us for Sunrise Service

The Easter Sunrise Service will take place at the home of Skeeter and LaVaughn on Sunday morning, March 27th at 6:30 AM. The service will begin at 6:45 AM. Following the service, a delicious breakfast will be served. All are invited to attend!

Palm Sunday Service

Come to our Palm Sunday Service on March 20th 2016 at 11:00 AM!

He Restores My Soul

Rep Jesus!

Be Kind to Each Other!

The Call to Conversion!

No eye has seen

no eye

Defining Worship, Part 1: What's It All About?

• Bob KauflinDirector of Worship Development, PDI Ministries
• 200329 Aug
• COMMENTS2

While the worship of God may refer to the highest privilege given to humans, the actual word "worship" is subject to the same weakness as any other word -- the more we use it, the less it usually means. We all think we know what others mean when they speak of "worship," but the truth is we can't be quite sure.

"Worship" might be the word someone chooses when trying to describe a particular sound or style of music. Depending on the speaker it can be anything from guitar-driven pop songs to boomer-friendly light rock to classic hymns. Many churches call a Sunday morning service, or perhaps a portion of that meeting, "worship."

Another way we use the word "worship" is in describing someone who is unusually expressive when singing praise to God. We might say, "She's a real worshiper." In that instance, "worship" refers to degrees of bodily movement or expressiveness. With the "worship explosion" of the past decade, marketers have realized that including "worship" in the title of a project is an effective marketing tool that often boosts sales. Others recoil at that thought, believing that "worship" really means intimacy with God.

Obviously, we need to take time to sort through these very different views of what worship really is. After all, worship is God's idea. It's what He created us to do. Theologian David Peterson comments, "We have enough how-to-do-it books and not enough reflection on worship as a total biblical idea. Worship is a subject that should dominate our lives seven days a week. (Engaging with God - A Biblical Theology of Worship, p. 21)

In my study of Scripture, I've found at least five distinct concepts that Scripture attaches to worship: exaltation, expression, encounter, event, and everyday.

Each one reflects a unique way in which God intends for us to use and understand the reality behind this word. While not exhaustive, this list gives us a basic foundation for how we should view worship. Not every passage we'll look at in this series includes the word "worship," but that's simply because the Bible employs a variety of ways to refer to it.

Worship is first and foremost exaltation. The Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible that we translate as "worship" most often communicate an attitude of reverence, submission, and homage. In the act of worship, we are by definition acknowledging that someone or something else is above us and worthy of our affection, attention and adoration.

 Biblical worship, then, involves exalting God above all other objects. This can be done directly, as in Exodus 15:2, where the Israelites declared, "The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him,

my father's God, and I will exalt him" (ESV). We see here, as in many other passages, that worship is about proclaiming the greatness of God's attributes, the splendor of His works, and His absolute claim on our lives.

Other times, our non-verbal actions and responses exalt God and reflect the essence of worship. We're told that Job fell to the ground and worshiped God when he heard that his home, possessions, and family had been destroyed (Job 1:21) By his actions he was exalting God's sovereignty and wisdom above his own understanding. When Mary anointed Jesus' feet with costly perfume in John 12 she modeled worship by exalting her love for the Savior above the world's monetary value system.

At its heart, worship involves the exaltation of all that God is and does. Next time we'll explore worship as expression.

Defining Worship, Part 2: Worship as Expression

Defining Worship, Part 2: Worship as Expression By: Bob Kauflin Director of Worship Development, PDI Ministries

Last time, we began our series on different aspects of biblical worship. We saw that worship is first and foremost exalting God - His works, His character, and His nature.

One way we do this is by declaring truths about God that He has revealed to us in His Word. But the Bible makes it clear that worship involves more than acknowledging facts about who God is. We must respond to what He has shown us.

Therefore, another aspect of worship is expression. In his book, Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis explains how he came to see that we naturally respond to what we value. "The most obvious fact about praise - whether of God or anything - strangely escaped me.... I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise...lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside...My whole, more general, difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we cannot help doing, about everything else we value. I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment." (John Piper, quoting C.S. Lewis, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, pp. 23-24)

In other words, to truly enjoy God, to truly worship Him, we must express what is in our hearts towards Him. Psalm 62:8 commands us, "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."  Expression in worship is an act of faith that God hears us and that he delights in our response to His self-revelation.

Expression can be both physical and verbal. Physical responses include singing, clapping, kneeling, bowing, shouting, and lifting hands. (We took a more detailed looked at these in my previous series on Physical Expressiveness in Worship). Along with exaltation, verbal expression involves communicating to God our love and desire for Him, our need of His grace, our gratefulness for His mercy, or our fear of His holiness. Sitting quietly in God's presence is also an appropriate way to express true worship before God.

Corporate worship is not unlike a conversation in which God speaks to us and we respond. Of course, God can speak to us at any time, and we can walk into a meeting overflowing with a desire to express our love for God. But many times, God will give us a fresh view or impression of His character while we are singing to Him, and in that moment the most natural thing for us to do is communicate our response. That's why the best songs and services allow room for both objective truth and subjective response - exaltation and expression. Psalm 95 is one example of that kind of progression.

The forms expression takes in worship vary from culture to culture, denomination to denomination, church to church, and even from person to person. How do we know that what we're doing is pleasing God? Here are some important questions to ask: Is the focus of my expression God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture? Does my expression have biblical precedent and support? Am I offering this expression through faith in the finished work of Christ? Answering "yes" to these three questions assures us that our expression is bringing glory to God.

When God is truly exalted, when hearts are fully engaged in expressing devotion to Him, it typically leads to a third characteristic of biblical worship, encounter. We'll take a look at that next time.

Grace By the Gallon Part 1 & 2

When Ashes Aren't Enough!

Love Others the Way God Loves You

Love Others the Way God Loves You

BY RICK WARREN 

“Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.” (1 Corinthians 13:7 GW)

The same love that God gives to you, you are to offer to everybody else that you come in contact with. It’s not an option or a suggestion. It’s a command: “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT).

If you are a follower of Christ, you must love everybody — whether you like them or not — in the same way that Christ loved you. That means you are to accept them completely, love them unconditionally, forgive them totally, and consider them extremely valuable.

Loving others in this way will transform your relationships!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up” (GW).

This is how God loves you. God never stops being patient with you. God never stops believing in you. God never stops hoping for the best in your life. God never gives up on you. That’s what God expects you to do with everybody else.

“Love never stops being patient.” That means love extends grace. You need to offer grace to others.

“Love never stops believing.” That means it expresses faith. You tell someone, “Even though we’re having a tough time, I will never stop believing in you.”

“Love never stops hoping.” That means love expects the best. Are you expecting the best in your marriage, or have you settled for less than the best?

“Love never gives up.” That means love endures the worst. It means you can look at the other person and say, “You can throw everything at me, but I’m going to keep loving you, no matter what.”

Prayer

If you want to start transforming your relationships today, then I invite you to read this prayer to God: “Dear God, I admit that I have made a mess in my relationships. They’re complicated and broken, and I’ve often settled for less than the best. They need a transformation! I’d like you to begin by changing me. Deliver me from my fears, because I can see how they make me distant and defensive and even demanding. Today and every day from now on, I want to surrender my heart to you. I want to learn to live my life in your love and be filled with your love.

“Help me to accept others, just as you’ve accepted me. Help me to love others unconditionally, just as you have loved me. Help me to forgive others totally, just as you’ve forgiven me. And help me to value others as much as you value me. Help me to extend grace to and express faith in the people around me. Help me to expect the best in others, and help me to endure the worst when it happens. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself: 7 Practical Tips

by DEREK HILL · 

The Greatest Commandment

In Matthew 22:36-39, a Pharisee asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  The kind of love expressed in both of these laws is agape love.  In regards to the second commandment, this love seeks for the greatest good for our neighbor.  By way of definition, “neighbor” in this passage refers to anyone who is around us:  our actual neighbor or the person at the desk next to us at work.  Here are 7 practical tips for loving your neighbor as yourself.

In order to really focus on loving others, we have to constantly be aware of how much Jesus loves us by how He laid His life down for us on the cross. When we are thankful for Him, we can really express the love needed to plant the seed into an unbeliever’s heart.

Seek Out Your Neighbor 

In Ezekiel 34:16a, God says, I will seek out the lost, and I will bring back the strayed.  God does this so many times through his flock.  Jesus did not spend His time around the saved, but the unsaved.  We should model our lives after His.  Seek out someone that God has placed on your heart.  Seek them and love them for who they are, not for who you want them to be.  Jesus ate with tax collectors, he talked with prostitutes and spent time with the sick.  His reputation was not even a factor.  He spent time with them because He loved them unconditionally.  We have to put pride and our reputations down at the cross if we want to truly love others.

Bless Those Who Persecute You 

Yes, the ones who persecute you need Jesus more than ever.  Romans 12:14 says, bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  This is a reflection on Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:44 when He says, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  God has never stopped seeking the hearts of man, even in the “self-fulfilling” world we live in.  He is always knocking, hoping that the unsaved will answer.  We should be the same.  We need to pray throughout the day for those who persecute us.  And in all circumstances, show them love no matter what.  It is the very least we can do considering the grace and mercy God has given us through Christ’s death.

Be Real 

We have all received gifts or honors because “it was the right thing to do.”  You just can’t feel love from someone when they are doing something good for you because “it is the right thing to do”.  People feel love when it is really expressed.  “I love you,” is a very common phrase.  Many times it just feels like it should be said.  Really, though, it needs to come from the heart.  Sometimes it is better to do something that says, “I love you” than saying it.  For instance, a woman always feels a need to be cherished.  As men, we need to show them that by taking them to do things that they like to do, or by stopping what we are doing to talk with them or to dance with them.  The interaction is really where true love is expressed.  With interaction comes connection.  With connection comes a bond.

Sacrifice 

With sacrifice comes remembrance.  This is why Jesus instituted the “Lord’s Supper”.  Luke 22:19 says, and He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them (the 12 disciples), saying, “This is my body, which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me.”  The wonderful gift and sacrifice of Jesus’ shed blood on the cross covering our multitude of sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness is what we remember each time we partake in communion.  I had a flat tire on the highway once, which was so old that it literally fused itself to my truck.  My friend drove by and saw me.  We both tried to pull it off with no avail.  I ended up calling another friend, whose dad runs a body shop, and his dad picked my truck up, got the tire off, and replaced it all for free.  I felt much compassion and love from him that day, especially because I knew that his love came from Christ.  His sacrifice made such an impression on me that I will never forget it.  I will always love and respect him for his act of compassion on me.

Be a Good Listener 

We all know what it is like when we try to talk with someone and they interrupt us or ask, “What did you say again?”  It feels like they don’t even care and they honestly may not.  You will always feel like someone cares for you when they genuinely listen to you.  Listening is a conscious choice you have to make.  James 1:19 says, be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.  Following this model, we will show our neighbor love even if they don’t recognize it.

Respect The Boundaries 

You will not be seen as loving if you break into a person’s home.  You have not respected their boundaries.  The same goes for the peripheral boundaries that each person has set for themselves.  It is important that we as Christians can read the signs.  To love like Christ is to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).  Salt adds flavor and seasoning to food.  We are to be like salt.  People want flavor.  Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”  When we answer our neighbor like we “ought” to, they will be drawn to us.  They will notice something different about us if they are not already a believer, and that is what attracts them.  While respecting someone’s boundaries, they will be more inclined to converse and they will be much more receptive to what we have to say.

Feed The Good Wolf

There is an old Indian proverb about two wolves.  It says that there are 2 wolves inside every person.  One is full of evil wanting to kill, destroy and devour anything it can.  The other is full of love wanting to look after the weak and take care of the less fortunate.  The one that grows is the one you feed.  The Christian’s “good wolf” is the Holy Spirit.  When we are feeding it by reading the Word, spending time in prayer and worshipping our Father, we will be fully equipped to let His light shine into the darkness and to love our fellow man in all circumstances.

Conclusion

In order to really focus on loving others, we have to constantly be aware of how much Jesus loves us by how He laid His life down for us on the cross.  When we are thankful for Him, we can really express the love needed to plant the seed into an unbeliever’s heart.  I pray that we all can learn daily how to love even more then yesterday
.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/love-your-neighbor-as-yourself-7-practical-tips/#ixzz3wAUACgAu

Love God! Love One Another!

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke 10:27

Loving Others

                                                 J. Stephen Lang

Loving other people doesn't mean being "in love" with everyone. "Warm-fuzzy" love is easy -- until the emotion starts to fade, that is. But the human love the Bible talks about isn't just a passing emotional state. It's something based on choice. We choose to care about another person's welfare, even if that person has hurt us, called us names, ignored us.

Parents understand this kind of love, for they keep loving their children even when the children don't seem to love them back. It is similar -- but not as steadfast -- as God's love for us. He loves us when we aren't at all lovable and then commands us to return the favor -- that is, love other people as he loves us, and make giving, not getting, the goal of our love.

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.Proverbs 17:17

"Do for others as you would like them to do for you.

"Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return.

"Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." Luke 6:31-36

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"

Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"

The man answered, "`You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, `Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!" Luke 10:25-28

Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting -- and any other commandment -- are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements. Romans 13:8-10

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in tongues and special knowledge will all disappear. For even our special knowledge is incomplete, and our prophecy is incomplete. But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.

It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

There are three things that will endure -- faith, hope, and love -- and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. 1 John 5:1-2

The Book of God's Promises -- Copyright, 1999 by J. Stephen Lang. All rights reserved, used with permission.