"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
John 13:34
Keyword(s): As I have loved you
Loving as Jesus loves us. How easy is that!! Lets love everyone with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
So let's see the magnitude of this love. How much if, we could love like Jesus, should we be loving
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
okay, lets look at the every single person scenario. At this moment,there are 6470818671 people in the world and counting. Since the days of Adam, I have no idea how much people has been born to this earth, walked it and then left it. Certainly more then 6470818671.
Lets try to love all of them like Jesus did. Lets again go back all the way to the time of Adam and Eve. God made the heavens the earth the sky and the whole package. And men. And men sinned. and dissapointed God. And so comes a whole generation of sinners. Men who do as they pleased, disobeyed Gods commandments, practically selling themselves to false Gods and idols, sometimes we please him, do things that honor him, worship him. Then a few good ones come along, Abraham, Moses, Noah, King David, but they aint flawless themselves. And so as time passed, we continue to sin and disobey him and dissapoint him, occasionally pleasing him, then back to the same ole bad cycle.
His response?
Sending his one and only son to earth, in the form of Himself to teach, love, be betrayed and ridiculed.
Oh yeah, not to mentioned be crucified in the most horrible way possible.
And He does the impossible by turning that horrible crucifiction into the most beautiful thing, ever.
He freed us from sin. He showed us a way, back to Him.
Yea
"As i have loved you, you must love one another."
The ability to love 6470818671 and more people like Jesus did.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
astounding.
The act of emulating it?
Pretty much possible.
So how do we fulfill this commandment? oh by the way, its a commandment that Jesus gave too.
The challenge here is to do the impossible, through God as Jesus did. ahh...now that makes sense. Since God can do the impossible.
It still isn't a simple task, first we got to come close to God to a whole different level and understand Him more and more. And believe that He can give you to the strength to do the impossible. I'd be happy to love 75 people the way Jesus did, much less to say 6470818671. But I'll try, or I'll die trying. One point of remembering is that we shouldn't rely on our own limited strength, and instead seek help through his limitless strength.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
I can do everything through Him, who gives me strength
Philippians 4:13
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Day 7 - Love someone as your neighbour
So we learnt about loving everyone as your neighbour. Good and all, but the argument is, that's a lil hard isn't it. How do we learn to love that person on the other side of the world whom we have never met, spoken to or heard of.
The best place to start, might actually be limiting your love. So what about starting to love people you encounter first hand, on your day to day basis.
So what about that annoying lady at the office, sending emails every single time a slight mistake happens. She needs some slack too.
What about that guy in the group of friends who is just whinging off every two seconds, why did you guys take me its so darn hot, what are you guys doing thats stupid, This movie sucks why did you choose this movie, there again for dinner? its so far away....yadda...yadda...grrr He needs some sugar too.
That rude guy who serves you at the corner store, smile and say thank you.
Your friend, going through a rough patch. Don't let him/her stew at home in emoness, take em out for coffee, go watch a movie, go to church for goodness sakes, dont let em stay home, the walls might close in on them or something.
Little things in life, where you can show a lil bit more love, a lil bit more sugar. Its not too much to ask is it?
The best place to start, might actually be limiting your love. So what about starting to love people you encounter first hand, on your day to day basis.
So what about that annoying lady at the office, sending emails every single time a slight mistake happens. She needs some slack too.
What about that guy in the group of friends who is just whinging off every two seconds, why did you guys take me its so darn hot, what are you guys doing thats stupid, This movie sucks why did you choose this movie, there again for dinner? its so far away....yadda...yadda...grrr He needs some sugar too.
That rude guy who serves you at the corner store, smile and say thank you.
Your friend, going through a rough patch. Don't let him/her stew at home in emoness, take em out for coffee, go watch a movie, go to church for goodness sakes, dont let em stay home, the walls might close in on them or something.
Little things in life, where you can show a lil bit more love, a lil bit more sugar. Its not too much to ask is it?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Day 6 - Love everyone as your neighbour
Differences and Fears
Are what divides us. Think about it, the borders of our countries, division of states, even right down to white picket fences dividing you and your neighbours.
Differences in thoughts, ideals, wants, needs. And maybe that breeds the fear in us. The suspicions and the doubts towards others.
Separation, and so if you think about it, to love your neighbours, might just a tad of a problem. Could you love a stranger? Someone you met maybe for 2 minutes, or even less.
But theres one thing we need to remember
And that His blood was for us.
Everyone.
God loves everyone.
Consider Kanye West, who so famously who so famously walked on stage and humilated Taylor Swift at a Music Award Show.
And so the bulk of us would think 5 things:
1)“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
2)“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
3)“Kanye West just wounded a teenager, a kid, that is horrible.”
4)“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
5)“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
So do I. I’ve never committed a single sin, a single time. I am a repeat offender. I have a longer history with sin than Kanye does with running on stage at events. Have you ever repeated a sin more than once?
“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
My worst moments were planned. I didn’t fall down the stairs and suddenly find myself landing in a heap of unexpected garbage at the bottom. I made plans. I was deliberate. I set things up that at the time seemed to be what I needed. I did the things that crippled my life on purpose.
“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
Do you have to support to show love? Do you have to condone to offer grace and forgiveness? Clearly Proverbs spells out a million reasons you shouldn’t support fools and foolish behavior and what Kanye did was foolish. And it'd be equally dumb to judge people for judging Kanye. Are there only two options though? We love him which means we’re pro “running on stage and hurting people” or we hate him? Can’t we disagree with the behavior and offer love to the person? (I think I just invented the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” I should put that on t-shirts.)
“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
According to whose standards? Mine? Is that what Christ says is the second most important commandment in Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself, only if their apology is legitimate and you feel that their repentance is real?” Or is it written, “Rebuke your neighbor as yourself?” Or is love the thing we’re supposed to do? And let’s be honest, what are the chances that I get to heaven and God says, “You offered too many hurting people grace. You over graced the world Gerald. That is whack.”
The more I thought about it, the harder it was to hate Kanye.
Maybe you laughed at how silly and insignificant the whole thing was because it's just a bunch of celebrities, who cares. Maybe you threw on Kanye's “Jesus Walks” and got down like the awkward girl from the rich part of town that inexplicably moves to the inner city high school and has to learn how to dance to survive some sort of all girl gang but ends up falling in love with a tough on the outside by soft and tender on the inside street youth while learning the valuable lesson that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Maybe that was your reaction.
Mine was hate.
And I hate that.
And I love that God loves me like He loves Kanye.
Because we all both in desperate need of it.
Are what divides us. Think about it, the borders of our countries, division of states, even right down to white picket fences dividing you and your neighbours.
Differences in thoughts, ideals, wants, needs. And maybe that breeds the fear in us. The suspicions and the doubts towards others.
Separation, and so if you think about it, to love your neighbours, might just a tad of a problem. Could you love a stranger? Someone you met maybe for 2 minutes, or even less.
But theres one thing we need to remember
And that His blood was for us.
Everyone.
God loves everyone.
Consider Kanye West, who so famously who so famously walked on stage and humilated Taylor Swift at a Music Award Show.
And so the bulk of us would think 5 things:
1)“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
2)“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
3)“Kanye West just wounded a teenager, a kid, that is horrible.”
4)“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
5)“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
So do I. I’ve never committed a single sin, a single time. I am a repeat offender. I have a longer history with sin than Kanye does with running on stage at events. Have you ever repeated a sin more than once?
“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
My worst moments were planned. I didn’t fall down the stairs and suddenly find myself landing in a heap of unexpected garbage at the bottom. I made plans. I was deliberate. I set things up that at the time seemed to be what I needed. I did the things that crippled my life on purpose.
“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
Do you have to support to show love? Do you have to condone to offer grace and forgiveness? Clearly Proverbs spells out a million reasons you shouldn’t support fools and foolish behavior and what Kanye did was foolish. And it'd be equally dumb to judge people for judging Kanye. Are there only two options though? We love him which means we’re pro “running on stage and hurting people” or we hate him? Can’t we disagree with the behavior and offer love to the person? (I think I just invented the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” I should put that on t-shirts.)
“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
According to whose standards? Mine? Is that what Christ says is the second most important commandment in Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself, only if their apology is legitimate and you feel that their repentance is real?” Or is it written, “Rebuke your neighbor as yourself?” Or is love the thing we’re supposed to do? And let’s be honest, what are the chances that I get to heaven and God says, “You offered too many hurting people grace. You over graced the world Gerald. That is whack.”
The more I thought about it, the harder it was to hate Kanye.
Maybe you laughed at how silly and insignificant the whole thing was because it's just a bunch of celebrities, who cares. Maybe you threw on Kanye's “Jesus Walks” and got down like the awkward girl from the rich part of town that inexplicably moves to the inner city high school and has to learn how to dance to survive some sort of all girl gang but ends up falling in love with a tough on the outside by soft and tender on the inside street youth while learning the valuable lesson that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Maybe that was your reaction.
Mine was hate.
And I hate that.
And I love that God loves me like He loves Kanye.
Because we all both in desperate need of it.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Day 5 - Love God with all your strength and mind
A picture of footsteps.
Was what I recieved not too long ago, from one of the dearest friend that i have. On the back was a message for me, that i be inspired, wise and creative because the footsteps that i take in life the choices that i make,becomes the resulting consequences.
The actions we take, are influenced and moulded by the mentality we adopt when confronting something. This ultimately results in different resulting scenarios relative to the actions we take.
And so if we think about God, ask His permission or seek His approval, when undertaking choices in life. Adopting a God seeking mentality, that your thoughts be directed towards Him. Goals in life centred around Him, and we see actions happen in the highest order. Thats where strength comes in, these actions. God honoring actions that consumes every ounce of strength and energy in our bodies, and God will handle the rest.
So you see a linkage, mind and strength. Something like cause and effect.
And they say that if you put your mind to it, you will achieve great heights.
They fail to mention that if you put your mind to it, for God, He will help you achieve the greatest of heights.
Was what I recieved not too long ago, from one of the dearest friend that i have. On the back was a message for me, that i be inspired, wise and creative because the footsteps that i take in life the choices that i make,becomes the resulting consequences.
The actions we take, are influenced and moulded by the mentality we adopt when confronting something. This ultimately results in different resulting scenarios relative to the actions we take.
And so if we think about God, ask His permission or seek His approval, when undertaking choices in life. Adopting a God seeking mentality, that your thoughts be directed towards Him. Goals in life centred around Him, and we see actions happen in the highest order. Thats where strength comes in, these actions. God honoring actions that consumes every ounce of strength and energy in our bodies, and God will handle the rest.
So you see a linkage, mind and strength. Something like cause and effect.
And they say that if you put your mind to it, you will achieve great heights.
They fail to mention that if you put your mind to it, for God, He will help you achieve the greatest of heights.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Day 4 - Love God with all your soul
Nephesh, makes sense doesn't it?
Nephesh, the Hebrew word for 'to breathe'
Sometimes when we feel tired or exhausted on the inside, it helps
to just sit back and breathe don't it?
And so sometimes i do feel, that i'm sitting inside a container.
My body is a container, a host. And sitting somewhere inside, is me. And while I'm here on earth, i function, eat, breathe and all in this container. Am i a soul, living in a body?
And from what i gather, my soul is essentially, the core of me, the core of my being. It is my personality, my thoughts, my being. It is the central point of me.
And so what does it mean for me to love God with all my soul. To love God all the way to the core of me? Right deep down, all the way to the soul, and from there, right down to the core, into that crevasse where you yourself don't often visit. And even when you do, you don't stay long.
And one day, in an unscheduled stop down there, you see yourself, the person you are, it isnt the physical body you are, but your thoughts, your personality, your passions and your dreams. It feels like a collective group of something, if you can even follow me anymore at this point, in the air.
And with that collective group of something in the air, deep down in that crevasse, you find God, and you love Him, with this crazy, unadorned, powerful, impossible passion that yet feels so calming and right. And you find that everything is alright.
Loving God with all my soul am I?
Nephesh, the Hebrew word for 'to breathe'
Sometimes when we feel tired or exhausted on the inside, it helps
to just sit back and breathe don't it?
And so sometimes i do feel, that i'm sitting inside a container.
My body is a container, a host. And sitting somewhere inside, is me. And while I'm here on earth, i function, eat, breathe and all in this container. Am i a soul, living in a body?
And from what i gather, my soul is essentially, the core of me, the core of my being. It is my personality, my thoughts, my being. It is the central point of me.
And so what does it mean for me to love God with all my soul. To love God all the way to the core of me? Right deep down, all the way to the soul, and from there, right down to the core, into that crevasse where you yourself don't often visit. And even when you do, you don't stay long.
And one day, in an unscheduled stop down there, you see yourself, the person you are, it isnt the physical body you are, but your thoughts, your personality, your passions and your dreams. It feels like a collective group of something, if you can even follow me anymore at this point, in the air.
And with that collective group of something in the air, deep down in that crevasse, you find God, and you love Him, with this crazy, unadorned, powerful, impossible passion that yet feels so calming and right. And you find that everything is alright.
Loving God with all my soul am I?
Day 3 - Love God with all your heart
Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you
Matthew 6:33
Talk vs. Action
So we say we love God. How about really loving God now?
That's what talk is really isn't it? Talk talk talk, and without action to back it, it's just talk really. So how about having this crazy, giddy, delirious relationship with God? Thats what love really should be isn't it?
And we realise that as we pray, or seek God, do we speak what he wants to hear? Or what you think he wants to hear? Like the great King David, when he wrote all this songs of love for the Lord, he poured his heart out into those songs, he sang a man overwhelmed and in awe, and we can see his raw emotions in his songs and poems.
So next time, speak from the heart, when speaking to Him. Open up to Him, for He does love you and He listens.
Matthew 6:33
Talk vs. Action
So we say we love God. How about really loving God now?
That's what talk is really isn't it? Talk talk talk, and without action to back it, it's just talk really. So how about having this crazy, giddy, delirious relationship with God? Thats what love really should be isn't it?
And we realise that as we pray, or seek God, do we speak what he wants to hear? Or what you think he wants to hear? Like the great King David, when he wrote all this songs of love for the Lord, he poured his heart out into those songs, he sang a man overwhelmed and in awe, and we can see his raw emotions in his songs and poems.
So next time, speak from the heart, when speaking to Him. Open up to Him, for He does love you and He listens.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Day 2
do not worry about everyday life -whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more then food and clothing?
Matthew 6:25
Your priorities in life?
Is it your career? your favourite sports team? or even facebook
Will the account that you're book keeping remember you in 20 years? or will Real Madrid remember that you spent 90 mins or more every week watching them? or will facebook remember that you spent 4 hours a day writing on peoples walls?
or will your 7 year old boy remember that birthday party you threw for him, or that you went to every little league game he played every season? Or that you brought him to a "character building" fishing and camping trip ending up with a thousand mozzie bites but no fish every summer?
How easy is it to be carried away by our jobs, money, career. Would we rather be alone at the top? or loved and cared and remembered at the bottom rung.
For he does not demand that we accomplish great things but demands that we strive for excellence in our relationships.
Matthew 6:25
Your priorities in life?
Is it your career? your favourite sports team? or even facebook
Will the account that you're book keeping remember you in 20 years? or will Real Madrid remember that you spent 90 mins or more every week watching them? or will facebook remember that you spent 4 hours a day writing on peoples walls?
or will your 7 year old boy remember that birthday party you threw for him, or that you went to every little league game he played every season? Or that you brought him to a "character building" fishing and camping trip ending up with a thousand mozzie bites but no fish every summer?
How easy is it to be carried away by our jobs, money, career. Would we rather be alone at the top? or loved and cared and remembered at the bottom rung.
For he does not demand that we accomplish great things but demands that we strive for excellence in our relationships.
40 days of love
40 days of new insight to radically improve, even transform what matters most in your relationships.
Day 1
Its about placing value into the relationships in your life that matters.
Priority : God
Secondary : People
"Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength. The second is this : Love your neighbor as yourself "
Mark 12:29-31
Suppose you're in a rubber raft with a friend. You're approaching an island. The raft is leaking and you are within sight of land. In the raft with you are a set of signal flares, a weeks supply of canned food and a five gallon container of water. You must throw one of these items overboard if you're going to make it to the island. Which one do you choose?
If the first answer that hit you, and be honest about it now, was the friend, there are priorities in life that you have to reevaluate.
It is important to remember that the core of why we are here, is your relationships with others, because in the end, it is the one that outlives everything else, and it's what guides and shapes you in life.
Day 1
Its about placing value into the relationships in your life that matters.
Priority : God
Secondary : People
"Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength. The second is this : Love your neighbor as yourself "
Mark 12:29-31
Suppose you're in a rubber raft with a friend. You're approaching an island. The raft is leaking and you are within sight of land. In the raft with you are a set of signal flares, a weeks supply of canned food and a five gallon container of water. You must throw one of these items overboard if you're going to make it to the island. Which one do you choose?
If the first answer that hit you, and be honest about it now, was the friend, there are priorities in life that you have to reevaluate.
It is important to remember that the core of why we are here, is your relationships with others, because in the end, it is the one that outlives everything else, and it's what guides and shapes you in life.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Getting through life on a chicken wing
So the course i'm studying in uni.
Now thats a full on course, pelted with assignments left right centre.
Man life sucks.
Got a mate,never enough money
Man life sucks.
I'm sure that you've got many things too
That make ur life suck
don't worry i get where you're coming from
Till i met this guy
Nick Vujicic
Choose Better, over Bitter
Face adversities head on.
When you fall, pick yourself back up
and again
and again
and again
That's what life is about.
It isnt about winning everytime.
It's about making mistakes
and learning
Life isnt a right, it's a privelege
Now thats a full on course, pelted with assignments left right centre.
Man life sucks.
Got a mate,never enough money
Man life sucks.
I'm sure that you've got many things too
That make ur life suck
don't worry i get where you're coming from
Till i met this guy
Nick Vujicic
Choose Better, over Bitter
Face adversities head on.
When you fall, pick yourself back up
and again
and again
and again
That's what life is about.
It isnt about winning everytime.
It's about making mistakes
and learning
Life isnt a right, it's a privelege
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