No Faking 2-27-12

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have

sincere love for your brothers, love one another earnestly, from the heart. 1Pet. 1:22

To be sincere means to be incapable of:

faking (to pretend feeling or knowledge),

posturing (swagger, bravado, exaggerated behavior),

pretense (make-believe, façade),

dishonesty (fraudulence, trickery),

lying (two-faced, double-dealing, double-standards, hypocrisy),

guile (cunning or deceitfulness),

subterfuge (something designed to deceive, bluffing),

feigning (to copy somebody or something, shamming)

Let’s examine these definitions and honestly ask this tough question:

In my relationships right now, am I practicing “sincere love”?

(Am I practicing a fervently sincere love that comes from my innermost being where His Spirit resides?)

Or

Is my love for “difficult so-n-so” more of an act?

(An act generated from a heart motive endeavoring to promote OR protect itself?)

In general, little children are incapable of pretense or posturing. (That’s why their blatant observations are so refreshing!) It’s no wonder Jesus says, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven… Let the children come to Me… For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.” Matt. 18:3; Lk. 18:16

It’s not enough to “act kind and loving”. God exhorts that our love for others must be sincere. Rom. 12:8

Embracing His all-sufficient love this week,

Shaun and Betsy

Is He a Christian? 2-21-12

“These people honor Me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.” Matt. 15:8

Am I wearing out God with my complacent, self-serving heart or misguided heart, serving Him out of ritual or political maneuvering versus wholehearted devotion?

It’s a political year, and in the daily news we hear people of prominence and/or questionable integrity claiming to be Christians.

What is a real Christian?

Simplistic answer: Someone who believes in and follows Christ.

Longer answer: Someone who believes in and follows what Christ says about Himself in His Word…not one’s misguided perception (or church tradition) about what Christ says about Himself.

How to become a real Christian?

We have a choice.

When our perceptions don’t line up with what God says in Scripture, we can choose to cling to our misguided perceptions and justify our thoughts, words and actions, OR

We can choose to forgo our feelings and implement a paradigm shift in accordance with what God says about Himself.  Then, with the help of the Spirit within us, our thoughts, words and actions will begin to align to those of our God. (Jn. 16:13-15; Is. 28:22-23,26,29)

Cling to and justify falsehood    VS    Relinquish and implement Truth

This week, let’s determine to “get intimate” with the Jesus of the Bible.  “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lam. 3:23.

Much love,  ~Shaun and Betsy

Authentic Love 2-14-12

“…if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.” 1 Cor. 13:3b

Below is a lesson to us from the Author of Love Himself (with some practical application). Today, on this Valentine's Day, we pray you sense the warmth of His loving embrace. 

Love is patient: 
Even though I may be eager to have my needs met and my dreams fulfilled, 
I won't demand instant satisfaction from God or people. 
And with God's strength, I will persevere through misfortunes, troubles, offenses and heartache.

Love is kind:  
I will endeavor to see people and circumstances in my life through God's eyes, 
and not according to what is "presented" or according to my personal perceptions. 
Then I will chose to allow His love to charitably guide my interactions.

Love does not envy: 
I will choose to find my security and my identity in God.

Love does not boast and is not proud: 
I recognize that all my talents and successes in this life are gifts from God, 
and are not for me to claim for myself.

Love is not rude or self-seeking: 
I will endeavor to give others the same consideration, courtesy, respect and attention that I would give 
to an honored guest, and regard another's needs as important as my own.

Love is not easily angered: 
I will trust God, knowing that He is in complete control of all circumstances, 
and that He will give me discernment, peace and self-control in tricky contentious situations.

Love keeps no record of wrongs: 
When I have been hurt or wronged, I will choose to forgive 
and move on without keeping score, whilst guarding my heart.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth: 
I will daily ask God to break my heart with what breaks His, 
and to give me joy in the things that give Him joy.

Love always protects: 
I will keep to myself minor errors and faults of others.

Love always trusts: 
I understand that people will fail me, but God is ALWAYS faithful, 
and I will choose to entrust myself to Him.

Love always hopes: 
As I daily draw near to God, I will ask Him to infuse me with 
the knowledge of His promises, 
and then with full confidence, I will choose to trust Him at His Word.

Love always perseveres: 
With Jesus as my ROCK, in life’s difficulties I will live in His strength 
and not my own, and I will choose to bravely and calmly bear ill treatments.

Love never fails: 
God is always here for me. 
He sees all, is intimately acquainted with all my wayward thoughts and motivations, 
Knowing all this, He chose to die for me, so that He can live eternally with me. 
How priceless is His unfailing love! Ps.36:7

Loving like this is a tall order and a seemingly impossible task at times. 
But rather than feeling defeated from the start, we're wise to remember this: when God instructs, 
He ALWAYS equips!

Much love you, our friends, this Valentine's Day!  ~Shaun and Betsy                                

Living Courageous 2-6-12

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work.” 
1 Chr. 28:20

Courage in its simplest form: Wholeheartedly “be” and “do” what God has called us to “be and do”, moment-to-moment, and never quit.

Courage starts at home, and then moves out from there.

(Illustration: We are courageous to fly to foreign soil to aid the downtrodden, oppressed, exploited, handicapped, and ill. We must be equally vigilant not to fail to lend a helping hand and an understanding ear to these same folks in our own lives.)

Choosing to reside in and live out His courageous love this week,

Shaun and Betsy