"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Tryin' to think how upbeat and patient I am with people around me. Need help with that --there’s no good thing in me..in my old fleshly nature. Thanks for Your Spirit, mercy and a new nature, Lord!

Do I show Christ’s kind of selfless agape love, His kindness and goodwill? Do I serve well and tactfully share His Gospel and Word effectively — how can I improve cuz the time seems short?

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” Matthew 24:6

Love never ends when so SO much will pass away forever.. that really needs to go away! Seems like it’s more the "last days" today than ever before huh. Christian believer, let’s walk in victory with His help and bring people with.. if they will.

We tend to love people who are just like us, but not so much those who are not like us. Admit it, it's more challenging for both you and me to show love to strangers. God can through us today.

It’s easy to love people we have an affinity with, but do we show love by word and deed to those who are unlike us? God can help us with that -- He did that. He loves sinners like me. 

Jesus did that.. all the way to the cross and He sill loves us all. It’s a selfless love, aka it’s a giving kinda agape love. 

In this day when the foolishness of rampant promiscuity, antisemitism, and Open-borders in the western nations is so radically vogue and hard-pushed on citizens, we don't have to act or think unwisely in regards to love towards strangers, towards the Jews or towards others too. We can love people biblically by the Holy Spirit's grace.   

The mentality of the world today: "If only the world was just like me. I wish everyone in the world was like me..what a wonderful place that would be!” 

Want God to show you His love today... I mean in a way where you can start a love relationship with Him? This is such a huge love.  

Specifically, practically, exactly how does Jesus Christ (of the Bible, that Jesus..) come into my life?  What’s the process of becoming a Christian?  Four brief passages of Scripture in the Book of Romans explain how to turn your life around through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1.  Because of our sin, we are separated from God—All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Few people dispute this, because we’re too aware of our weaknesses and moral failure.  We all have regrets, and most of us deal with guilt at various times and in various ways.  We know something is “broken” within us.

Someone sat down beside Will Rogers at a dinner and asked the comedian, “What's wrong with the world, anyway?”  Rogers replied in his famous drawl, “Well, I dunno, I guess it’s people.”  

In response to an article in The Times of London entitled, “What’s Wrong with the World?” the writer, Chesterton, replied, “I am. Yours truly, G. K. Chesterton.”  All of us are sinners, and we need to find some way for dealing with this problem.

2.  The penalty for our sin is death—For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).  This verse encapsulates the whole Bible in a nutshell.  God is life and light, He is pure and perfect.  His presence cannot abide sin and wickedness; and because we have sinned, we’re separated from Him.  As a result, we’re as dead as a tree limb when sawed from the main trunk.  The word death is used in the Bible in the sense of separation.  Physical death occurs when the soul is separated from the body.  James said, “The body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26).  Spiritual death occurs when the spirit and body are eternally separated from God by sin.  But this verse goes on to offer hope: God wants to give us a gift—eternal life through Jesus our Lord.

3.  The penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ—But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  The verb “demonstrates” is a good, solid, active verb.  It means that God didn’t just love us in a sentimental way.  He did something in human history that proved His great love.  It was the death of Jesus Christ.  Though we are sinners, Christ died for us.  The great message of the Gospel is this: God loved us despite our sinfulness, and He chose to become a man Himself—Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless God-Man—and to die in our place, taking the penalty of our sins upon Himself that we might have the promise of His life for ourselves.  He loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

4.  If we repent of our sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins—If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . . For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9, 10, 13).  There's a promise we believe and a Person we receive.  You can pray right now, telling God you’re ready to trust Christ as your Savior and confess Him as Lord.  By the time you get to the final “Amen” you’ll be a new person in Christ.  Why not pray right now:

Dear God, I admit I’ve sinned and fallen short of your glory.  I realize the penalty for my sin is death, and I believe it was paid by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  I’m willing to repent of my sins, and I now confess Christ as my Savior and make Him the Lord of my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

5.  Can you be sure that if you ask Christ to save you, He will?  Yes!  He has done it.  Take this promise with you: Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God….  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:1, 13).

Heaven is going to be so SO cool -- a place for selfless love. It’ll be like an incredibly loving family celebrating and loving each others and of course the One who loved us first, loved us most, loved us til the end.. closer than a brother kinda love and who loves you / us now. 

You can do this -- you can know the Lord well, and then make the Lord well known. He will fill, bless, help, provide for, and empower you. Now is good. Come as you are. This is only the introduction, but I am talking about an ongoing lifestyle of love in the Lord. 

Let God the Holy Spirit help you love Jesus Christ and others today as He did. Facebook.com/shareJesus

God Loves you right now -- He is there for you now. Talk to him and ask Him to forgive you and fill you.. to guide and use you for His glory.

Jesus said, "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Luke 6:27-36

What would I say today?

If you struggle with chronic lying, Jesus loves you. 

If you struggle with laziness, Jesus loves you. 

If you struggle with gossip, Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with filthy language, Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with anger, theft, rejection, loss.. Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with respect, Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with modesty, Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with lust, Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with some addiction or other idol, Jesus still loves you. 

If you struggle with confusion, perversion and sexuality, Jesus loves you.  

If you struggle with an attitude, with puffed up thinking and pride, Jesus still loves you ..gobs! 

And so much so.. He has repentance, faith, inner regeneration, victory and spiritual growth in mind for you -- sure, He loves each of us too much to leave us as we are. And guess what.. He loves your friends, family and enemies as well. Go tell. 

God can get you past the sin and challenges by the power of His word and Spirit, and He’s indeed going to love you all the way through it. Apply the word wisely.. prayerfully. You won't regret allowing Jesus to be both your Lord who leads, and Savior who saves.  

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him.

Every single way of man typically seems smart and right in his own mind and eyes, but guess what.. guess who accurately weighs those hearts. The One who delights to be your Lord, who loves to bless and help people like you and me. 

The circumstances change, but the Word doesn't change at all. Have you come to Christ as you are..for His forgiveness? Have you prayed about it all as much as you've talked about it all..to all? I mean about them, it, or what's bugged you? Doing my best I commit the rest! Commit it all into His loving hands. 

For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. Romans 15:4

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours. Rejoice, it’s another day of love!

“Love is as strong as death...its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.” Song of Songs 8:6

Still wanna burn inside with His kinda red-hot passion! I asked Lin 36 years ago tonight to marry me -- still feel stoked she said “Yes!” Have never regretted it -- really don’t deserve her. Got hitch in Northern Colorado and had this cabin next to a stream up in the Rockies. Bears, deer, horses, a clear lake, tall pine trees and all. And I’m still learnin’ to love. 

We hear so much on this stuff. From the radio and love songs, we hear “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.” We also know that “love is a many-splendored thing.” Another song tells us that “love is the answer.” Perhaps the Beatles recorded the definitive song on the subject: “All You Need Is Love.”

Originally posted by galaxyslime

That’s supposed to be a heart (above), but it’s kinda lame. Sorry. 

Just know this.. there is real romance in the heart of this universe where you live -- it's in God's heart for you! Been there a long time too! He thought it up -- romance. Sure He did and is committed. He has some marriage plans with you in mind. He's still a hope-filled romantic if ya will! 

Yup, it’s another day of love! A day to be loved and give it away! Christ gives – He ain’t never been fakey or fickle for even a sec. “For God so loved…”

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~ Augustine

No matter what storm you face, you need to know that God loves you. He has not abandoned you. ~ Franklin Graham

If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it. ~ Henry Blackaby

Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not. ~ C.S. Lewis

One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help.” Nor must we search for signs of “loveworthiness.” Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are. ~ Philip Yancey

But what’s love got to do with it? 

Well, various philosophers have opined on love as well. Plato called love “a grave mental disease.” Oliver Wendell Holmes was more optimistic about love when he said, “Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.” And Erich Fromm called love “the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.”

Lord, help us know real love -- Your selfless kinda charity -- and then to walk in it.. cuz it ain’t always as easy as fallin’ off a log. I ain’t there yet, got a ways to go with agape love! Empower us to love by your Holy Spirit who constantly lives like that. 

The Bible says clearly that God is love. We don’t have a greater example of love than what we have in God showing his love for us. The definitive statement on love is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV).

I just ain’t always been a loving example. Didn’t trust too many people. But we have this amazing example of real love in which God loved us. He is the initiator and we are the responders. He took action first -- that’s what sending His Son is all about. We love Him because He first loved us! 

So then how should we respond? With a “Yes Lord.” We ought to love Him back and by faith receive Him. In fact, the Bible says, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NKJV).

Daily, we need his anointing..more than the air we breathe. Yup, cuz I'm a saved sinner and've got this ole fleshly nature yet Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

Jesus also said, ”‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37 NKJV). Let's love Him more today than anyone or anything! 

God loves you today, He’s there for you and did more than just blah, blah, blah words of love. Good idea, let’s be loyal and show our love to Him with beyond what we say.. you know, in how we live. Facebook.com/shareJesus

What's love got to do with it? He agaped.. you all the way to Calvary and beyond. Yup, loves you just as much today.

http://kurtwvs.tumblr.com/post/167978467783/hung-on-a-tree-for-you-sure-didnt-feel-lettin

Hit stop. Hit admit it. Hit quit it, Hit appropriate it.. His righteousness. Hit rest. Hit listen up.

http://kurtwvs.tumblr.com/post/154696000858/hit-pause-hit-knees-hit-listen

God's Agape Love > All This World Has To Offer

You know mere talk is cheap, but God proved His love.  Sure he did.  He proved it out in the open--you matter to him!

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8 niv). 

Ever been rejected. I’ve got a friend downtown who is really hurting this week. he came home a couple nights ago to find that His wife was all packed up and headed out the door. The divorce papers arrived today telling him to show up in count. Lots of grief and pain. 

He’s got a counselor now and we’ve been praying together daily. Perhaps you’ve been rejected in life.. by a parent, by a boss, by a son, daughter, girlfriend or boyfriend. So sorry about that. Just know that when people walk out, Christ walks in.. if you’ll let him enter.

The Bible talks about us being created, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in His Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6#JesusWasRejected #HeAcceptsYou  

And Jesus affirmed his love in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

But hey there, Buckeroo, it wasn’t just the world God loved; it was YOU. And me too. Paul wrote, God “loved me and gave Himself for me!” (Gal. 2:20 nkjv). You are no mistake. He has a good plan for your life–wants to save, bless and use you. 

Get in the flow of His Spirit of love--it's like a mighty river headed in the right direction. 

http://kurtwvs.tumblr.com/post/140274470378/it-was-my-grandfathers-idea-and-my-dad-drove-the

The last thing God wants is to send any person male or female – who is deeply loved by Him and made in His own image – to that real place called Hell. That’s why He sent Jesus to live a perfect life, to die a perfect death on the cross for our sins, and then to rise from the dead. Wants you to choose life!

Knowing, walking with and sharing Christ can be fun. Ever start out on empty and then ended on full--full of JOY. It's common for believers! Proverbs 11:25 tells us that “those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (nlt).

Jesus said, “You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit” ~ John 15:16 nlt

Read more…

Five aspects that are related to both fruit and a harvest for you.

Sometimes people ask me about fruit and I'm always glad? I love to think 'bout and discuss this vine-idea when I get a few minutes free ..like I have right now. 

Now you know, God only expects two things from us... faithfulness and fruitfulness from His believers. Sure, He never said, Well done thou hardworking top producer for the Kingdom. No, no. But go check out these words of His: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." 25/23mat. 

Like fruitfulness, faithfulness is also something for us to look at very carefully. Believer, would you pray something like.. Dear Lord, I want to seek You and learn what's important to You! Bitte, re-wash (forgive) me, restore me, revive me, recommission me, and refill me with Your Spirit now. Make me faithful and fruitful for Your glory. Yes, right now rekindle that pure fire of vertical passion within my heart. Won't worry 'bout it, but please let Your faithfulness, Your fruitfulness, Your loveliness like a well-watered meadow, and Your holiness be what I'm about ..yes, let these aspects consistently be seen in me. God, I want others to see Christ without any distortion or duplicity on my part. Help me walk in Your Word, but not get in Your way today. It's because I desire to be used and glorify You in Jesus Name. Amen.

Has your life thus far seemed somewhat barren, empty, non-impacting or insignificant? You are very important to God and He can change all that. Perhaps you desire to see fruit, more fruit, and much fruit? 

"Abide in Me." ~ Jesus

You know that Christian "abiding" has to do with making your relationship with God through Christ ..the very top priority. Yeah "Seek ye first" pretty much means.. before all that other stuff that you might feel like A.S.A.P. doin' each day (c6/33mat). I say begin the year, the month, the day ..with the Lord and you'll never regret it. Just watch what He will do as you obey! 

"Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning." 1/7pr.msg.

Perhaps you are asking, from a biblcial perspective... What is fruit?

1. Boldly introducing people to Jesus Christ.. is fruit! 

Obeying the Lord ..in livin'-out and sharing His Gospel produces fruit for God. Yes, the Apostle Paul and others told us this. Just leave the results up to Him cuz He's the only One who can save people. 

The Bible says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!" 11/30pr. 

2. Christian character that comes from intimately knowing God.. is fruit. 

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." 6/22rom.  

Want fruit? Christ-likeness is very important for every believer. God desires to use every believer in regards to His Great Commission. 

You know that too many people religiously do their own thing down here. They live exactly how they feel like living instead of according to the Word of God. And they do this jive in the Name of Jesus—this gives the Gospel a black eye so to speak. Much of the time it doesn't represent the Lord well at all. Yes, Christ said, "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me.." c15jn.

3. Spiritual fruit can be seen in givin' as the Holy Spirit directs ..and according to God this is credited to your account. 

I'm not talking here about some give-to-get word-faith "God-wants-us-all-wealthy-all-the-time" error. But Paul wrote this, "For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things [sent] from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 4/16-19phil.

"Not that I seek" money. No, Paul really wasn't greedy and out on the take. He wasn't livin' for what he could get for himself post conversion. And we should be like that either.

I like what the Bible says, "But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them.." 45/5jer.

"In everything I (Paul) showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 20/35acts

These words on givin' and fruit are in there - in the Book. Listen friend, I can't just cut these words out of the Bible for anyone.

4. Good works of Christian service in some form of Bible-loyal ministry.. is fruit.  

"Don't make 'church-attendance' with a healthy Bible teaching fellowship a flip of the coin kinda thing.. according to the weather or what you or your children might feel. Go faithfully and become fruitful! Don't give your dear children the option—they aren't the parents of the family." ~ @kurtwvs

"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously.." 1/10col.  

5. In Christ, praising and sincerely thanking God.. is fruit. 

"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." 13/15heb.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.." 5/22gal.

Love ain't God as many tend to say (cus according to the Greeks there's at least five types of love..), but God is Love. Pure and unselfish. People enjoy loving and being loved. Sure, it's cuz people were made in the very image of God and that's exactly what He enjoys - loving and being loved by people. He doesn't need us, but we sure need Him - we need His love. As the Initiator - He loved first. We simply respond. 

It's so imperative that you repent and believe the Gospel.. that you get to know the Lord today.. even now. Don't put it off. Want you there! We must be together with God for eternity!  

You can count on Christ to produce fruit in you as you stay connected. He is of course your Vine and you are His branch (you and I have been bought at a price - Christ paid with His blood on the Cross), believer. In His vineyard, don't let anything or anyone break you off and away from Jesus. You can't lose if you don't quit. 

"Others (seed) fell among the thorns" said Jesus, “and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear." 13/7-8mat.  That’s a good warning that I want to take heed to.  Why?  Well, I never want my fruitfulness in the Lord ..or potential fruitfulness in my future.. to get choked out by any cares of the world.  None of us should. 

Listen, no matter how bummed-out you might feel at times, or how desperate your circumstances might look, the one thing that you can always count on is the Lord's unfailing Love for you. Let nothing distract you away from Jesus. The Vine will be true to His branches and vineyard. If you'll be in the Word as a loving, caring Christian, you'll abide bearing fruit. Jesus'll walk and talk with you - guiding. He'll meet your every need as you look to Him. Let His fresh zoe life flow in and through you today. Others are thirsty for Him. He is SO there for ya. Even if or when all others walk out (of your life), He'll walk in - won't ditch ya ever. facebook.com/shareJesus