Is hatred seen as evidence of a corrupt human nature?
Hatred is a poison that destroys us from within, producing bitterness that eats away at our hearts and minds. …
Tag Archives: Love
Are we living in a culture of criticism?
We pay people to be critics. They make a living doing it. They sometimes even get fancy titles like consultants …
“Be imitators of God.” ~Apostle Paul
I watched what my father did. I now see so many of his traits and expressions as my own. In …
Can our love for our brothers and sister in the Messiah cover sins?
Peter has some great advice for us about enhancing our friendship with our brothers and sisters. If we really look …
“Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” ~Jude
There are some things to be careful about. I must take responsibility for building myself up. In fact, I can listen to my-self, …
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Master Jesus and for all the saints.” ~Apostle Paul
I need to thank God for my brothers and sisters in the faith of our Master Jesus. When I don’t …
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” ~Jesus
Jesus, the Messiah, has called us to obey. Jesus wants us and our complete devotion. It is His desire that we …
What do we get anxious and troubled about?
Mary was paying attention to what Jesus was saying. Martha was busy serving Jesus. Martha got upset that Mary was …
“Love is not irritable or resentful, keeping a tally of abuses.” ~Apostle Paul
Here is a concept to be considered. Our Father is perfectly in love with us. He isn’t, can’t, won’t fly …
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” ~Apostle John
When we think of leaders, how often do we think of love and truth? That should become our normal criteria. …
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” ~Jesus
What can go wrong? Our fear is that anything and everything will go wrong. That is an enemy whispering in …
“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.” ~Apostle John
I like hearing about the “new thing”. What is the shiny new object? Truth is not new. Truth is eternal. I …
Is Jesus interceding for us with God?
God’s love for us is astounding. That is all there is to it. He sent his son Jesus to redeem …
Can we see the forest for the trees?
Jesus demands that I get the point. I need to see Jesus. I need to have a passionate relationship with His Father. Reading …
Can we understand justice if we do not first understand sin?
Like a good parent, Our God knows how to keep it simple. Only 3 things on God’s list of “to …
How to be gentle, gracious, forbearing, and mild-mannered.
If I asked my family, friends, and colleagues if I were on their side, what would the answer be. I …
“And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments.” ~Apostle John
I must be diligent in living out the truth of God’s commandment. I must be consistent and not waiver. I …
“I made you. I don’t make mistakes.” ~God
I am God’s creation. He made me. Jesus loves me. Everything that happens in my life works out for good. Courage …
“I know that you do not have the love of God within you.” ~Jesus
King Jesus, the anointed Messiah, is direct with us. He can do nothing but say what He hears His …
Does hope encourage believers?
Why this is important: Hope is bundled together with tribulations, perseverance and proven character. It is a result of love …
Did Jesus come to bring good news through what He did?
God knows exactly how much I can handle. God is God and God is Great. God will see me through to …
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us.” ~Apostle Paul
Why this is important: God showed His infinite kindness to me. God sent His Son Jesus to die for me. …
Is God gracious and in a good mood?
God is gracious. It is all God, through his son Jesus, and not anything I do. God gives His grace …
Will God’s consolations cheer our souls?
I get scared. I am upset. I get beside myself and lose it. It happens. It is not pleasant. I …
“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” ~Apostle Paul
Why it matters: Joy is something that I must work at. It is a fruit, needs cultivation, water, fertilizer and …
“I bless Yahweh who gives me counsel; in the night also, my heart instructs me.” ~King David
God’s good word to us is constant. There are no ups and downs with his love. The message of Jesus …
“It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” ~Apostle Paul
Love is not all about the emotion of it and our feelings. It is not sentimental gush. Over time, we …
Are we seeking a shiny new object?
I am seeking a new and shiny object. Innovation is cool. The new thing is the holy grail. I love …
“Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” ~Apostle Paul
I get distracted. It seems to happen too easily. It must be the “shiny new object” syndrome. Jesus challenges me …
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother?” ~Apostle Paul
To whom do I answer? Is it the minister, my wife, my boss, or my children? It is a simple …
“God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” ~Moses
Where is the loyalty? Where is the love? Doesn’t anyone care? God is loyal and God is loving. We can …
“I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” ~God
How often do I dwell in the past? Remember the time …. Ah, the good old days! I know I …
Dangerous People in Our Churches!
I have decided not to publish the video I had intended to this morning. The powerful video was created by Lion …
“Love does not insist on its own way.” ~Apostle Paul
The big deal: God doesn’t force Himself on me. He is love and love doesn’t know how to do that. …
“Yahweh takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” ~King David
We have amazing news. This is not trivial. This is beyond good. This is great. God is in a good …
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah [Christ] has been born of God.” ~Apostle John
Why this is important: Here is a great promise. It is to everyone. No exceptions. And …. it is a …
“The steadfast love of Yahweh never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~Jeremiah
I am sticking with God!! I could trust myself, my friends, my family. Nothing wrong with that. Friends and family …
Are we claiming the gift of God? Are we fanning the flame?
Sometimes, OK, many times, I need to be reminded to fan the flame. It hasn’t completely gone out but it …
How easy will it be to welcome strangers into our homes?
John nails it, as always. John knows it is all about love. How many times does he remind me? …
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” ~Moses
Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. 5 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and …
Love is the main thing about the main thing.
Love is not stingy. Love is not miserly. Love is not tightfisted. Love is not grudging. Love is bighearted. Love …
Does God’s love ever fail?
Some people hear the message in their mind. “I am a failure”. Hearing it doesn’t make it true. We don’t want to go there. …
7,927,103,134
Oh, boy, there are SO MANY people on this Earth! Billions and Billions and Billions. This site said there were …
Does love originate with the Holy Spirit?
Where does love come from? What is the origin of love? Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s …
“Love does not envy or boast.” ~Apostle Paul
We see athletes do it all the time. Strutting their stuff when they do something cool. Subtly we are learning in …
“Love does not envy or boast.” ~Apostle Paul
How many times do we envy what someone else has? How come they have such a loving family? How come …
Will we choose the God of love or the God of judgement?
God loves us. That is so very powerful. This passage is the most popular in the Bible. And with good …
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” ~Jesus
Family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. The foundation of …
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in the Messiah Jesus.” ~Apostle Paul
True love is forgiving: God loves me so He forgives me for missing His goal (aka sin) for my life. …
“Give me such love for God and men, as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.” ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Our heavenly Father is magnificent. There are no boundaries to His greatness. I stand in awe of His great power. …
A tribute to my mother (Dorothy Wilson — 1922 – 1967)
Mothers are so special to us. Of course, my mother is no different. My mother, Dorothy Mae Frey was born …
Is it normal to question our relationship with God?
It is normal to question our relationship with God. Just think of Thomas. Jesus loved him and chose him as …
Are we working for “the man”?
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Master [Lord], knowing that in …
Does Jesus know what we lack in our lives?
And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, …
“God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” ~Apostle John
Jesus is clear. His apostle John is clear. My heart testifies to me what I ought to do. There is …
“For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.” ~Jesus
As mothers and fathers, we understand the love that we have for our children. Magnify that by a factor of …
“How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” ~King David
Why this is important: King David knows he can speak honestly with God. King David is clear about his despair. …
“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” ~Jesus
You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:14 (CSB) How will we show our obedience …
Jesus is the way but the way to what?
I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you …
Will our love of God lead to obedience?
You shall love the Master your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all …
“From the beginning it has not been this way.” ~Jesus
Jesus ushered in a new covenant (aka testament, agreement, or contract). Jesus did it through the blood he shed for …
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” ~King Solomon
Fighting too much? Arguing too often? What can I do? God calls us to love. God’s main goal for …
Has God abandoned us?
David has just spent 20 verses talking about how he feels abandoned by God. Seriously, he goes on and on about …
Is God Himself kind to ungrateful and evil men?
Sometimes I am so very tempted to get upset with the “ungrateful”. OK, truth be told, I do get upset. …
“Your steadfast love, Yahweh [O Lord], extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” ~King David
God has nothing but love in mind for us. It is exquisite. God’s love for us is amazing. God is …
“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” ~Jesus
The religious leaders, in their contempt, arrogance and hypocrisy, thought they could get the best of Jesus. Of course, …
The best of all of these is His extravagant love — A poem
I am not where I want to be. I am leaning in to hear the Master more clearly. I want …
“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” ~Jesus
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to …
“God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” ~Apostle John
John saw the glorification of Jesus with his own eyes. Imagine that. John was there for the transfiguration. John saw …
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” ~King David
God has started something in us. It is an amazing work. We serve a God who loves us and has …
“Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” ~Jesus
Jesus sets standards for us based on a whole different world. It is His Father’s world. It is a world …
Is our love being perfected?
In our Father’s house there are many, many rooms. But the one thing there is no room for is fear. …
What do we have to fear?
Why this is important: We do not have to be timid or shy. Fear cannot grip our hearts. He has …
How radical is Jesus concept of love? Will it bring out the best in us?
Why this is important: There are people in our lives that simple challenge us. Many times, that challenge clearly brings …
Where do we start in describing God?
Who is God? How do I describe Him to others? Where would I start? Here is a good place to …
What is our job today?
Well, this is a simple job description. What is my job? It is to bless. That is it!! When I …
Does love always look for the best?
God is love. God is always looking for the best in us. He does not see our foibles and quirks. God …
Is sharing in fellowship a result of God’s love?
God has a great goal and vision for fellowship. It is one of the two big things Jesus expects from …
Are we ready to take God seriously?
God’s plan for us is plain, clear and simple. God challenges us to love, do justice, be kind and be …
Is it time to try something new?
Why this is important: We seek and search for the “new thing” and the “new message”. It is the shiny …
What is the main thing about the main thing?
Jesus is beginning to wrap up his Manifesto (aka the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7). Jesus now lays …
Are we living in darkness, blind to our reality?
God’s goal for us is for us to love our brothers and sisters in Jesus, the Messiah. When we receive …
How can we love our enemies?
This is important: Jesus is all about forgiveness. That is the reason God sent him to us. We need forgiveness …
Does hope disappoint?
The main thing: Now this is amazing. I am not disappointed when I hope. In my hope, I see Jesus. …
What is the nature of gentleness like? How can we have more in our lives?
I have seen it too often. So, have you. Something that starts simple escalates. It turns into all-out war. My …
Can fear turn into faith? Is there fear in love?
I have many things I am afraid of. God is God and Jesus is working with me to iron those …
What should our focus be on?
It is none of my business. That is the stunning message from Jesus that He wants me to know. I …
Are we ready to change our minds and act differently about gentleness?
Worth noting: What is my attitude? How should I act? What do I think God has in store for me? …
Is kindness shown by God’s people?
First Corinthians 13 stands as one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. The subject is love, and many …
Are we ready to be compassionate?
Compassion is an attitude of care and concern, grounded in pity and sympathy towards others, given to us by Jesus. …
What is the greatest kind of love?
Is there Good News? There is good news. The Word of God and Jesus offers an understanding of the source, character, …
Is love optional?
God’s love for humanity. There is good news in that the Word of God and Jesus offers an understanding of the source, …
But what happens when we live God’s way?
Now this is amazing. One of God’s gifts is a sense of compassion in the heart to love. Even if …
What is God’s goal for us?
What does God want of me? What is His goal for me? Many of us go through life not knowing …
What do we know about love?
Why this is important: Love is not about me. Love is about God and Jesus. I don’t know the first …
Is love always “me first”?
God is love. He isn’t selfish. Plainly put, neither should I be. Love is selfless. That is the way of …
Is Jesus challenging us? Why should we love our enemies?
Jesus challenges us to go beyond what the rules say. He knows we focus on “what the rule says” and then …
Why do we love and reason?
Why this is important: We are not the creator. We didn’t create love. God is the author of love. He …
Is there a plan B with God?
As we seek to mature in the Master [Lord], one of the big three things to focus on is trusting …
Why is betrayal so painful?
Betrayal is very, very painful. Sometimes it seems like we just can’t let it go. It haunts us. Other days, …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 