Am I really Loving my Neighbor?

Don't you just love it when God clearly speaks to you about something? That happened to me today. This morning in my devotions my study was about love. Later in the day during our homeschool PE hour, our "Mom chat" was on the subject of...you guessed it--LOVE!!

I have been so blessed this day. I have been reminded once again that we cannot love others until we realize how much He loves us. And once we do, we won't be able to stop loving, giving, encouraging, serving, doing, etc. As a Mom I want to focus more on how much He loves my children than on the "rules" and things they should not do; I need to encourage them more, build them up more. I get so caught up in what they are doing wrong so often that I forget to remind them (as I forget myself) of how much Jesus loves them!

Matthew 22:37-39 (New International Version)

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

If the GREATEST commandment is to love one another, then I imagine the consequences of not doing this will be quite great.

I once heard a pastor say that He loves you as though you were the ONLY one in the world to love...I told my boys that yesterday. My oldest beamed as I told him and I plan on telling him much more often!!

Blessings on you today as you strive to love Him and bathe yourself in His love for you...and then pass that along to others!

Loving Him,

Mel

Just Obey Already!

James 1:22-24 (The Message)

"Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like."

The Lord spoke to me this morning- again through a very familiar verse. I wonder how long He has been trying to talk to me about this, and because it is so familiar, I just read it and move on--just like the man who looks in the mirror! I can be thinking I am doing the right thing, and yet my behavior and attitudes do not change. I yell at my kids, argue with my husband, think impure thoughts, covet what my friend has, complain, spend too much time on the computer when I have other work I need to do---and the list goes on.

"I am to obey what I know; respond to, don't ignore, what God asks me to do through His word, the urging of the Holy Spirit, my conscience, and what I simply know to be right" (Michael M. Smith "Becoming More Like Jesus").

Oh Lord, please help me to slow down and listen to you...and obey what you tell me, even when it means giving up something I really enjoy. I want to put you first, be faithful and honor you in everything. Thank you for always loving me!

Loving Him,

Mel

A New Day!

For the last few weeks I have been working through a book on character called "Becoming More Like Jesus." This week as I was studying I was led to the passage in Matthew that tells of The Beatitudes--- a passage I have read many times in my life. It was written in a different translation, however, and it really came alive for me and I wanted to share it with you. Here it is:

Matthew 5:3-12 (The Message)

3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Wow! I love this version of this oh, so familiar passage. In fact I printed it up and posted it on my wall (my "real" not virtual wall!) above my computer, where I can see it all the time.

Each of the verses spoke to me in a different way, but the one that has spoken to me most is verse 5- "you're blessed when you're content with just who you are-no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

I have been struggling with contentment lately. We have recently moved to a new state with all of the changes that come with moving: finding a new church, new friends, new homeschool group, activities for my boys, living in a rental and still having half of our belongings in boxes in the garage since the house is so small! I haven't dealt very well with this lately, especially since we made an offer on a beautiful home and it was not accepted. I have really been feeling sorry for myself and quite honestly I have not been very fun to live with. The Lord has been convicting me and I have been praying for Him to change my perspective and help me to "be content in all circumstances" (Phil. 4:11). I Praise Him for His faithfulness!! As long as I continually look to Him--read and study His word daily, pray continually, sing praise songs (in my head or out loud), and constantly check my thoughts--He has helped me and will continue to help me to have joy and continue to be the wife and mom I need to be to my husband and children. I would not be able to do this without Him!! In my weakness, He is strong---and His grace is sufficient! (2 Cor. 12:9)

I love the Lord with all my heart and so desire to be His today.

Loving Him,