Doing My Best to Love Others as I Love Me

Doing My Best to Love Others as I Love Me
I must love myself a lot because I sure do my best to take care of me – walking daily to keep my heart strong, doing mind and brain exercises to stay sound, spending time with God so I stay spiritually fit, eating healthy foods (most of the time) and taking nutritional supplements to subsidize what I don’t. But, the question is do I love others as much as ME? Thanks, Lord, for that one – I think! That “Thou Shalt”…..love your neighbor as you love yourself -- one!

Yesterday, my blog was about "taking the High Road" of living out the love of Jesus to those around us. That “high road” way is a radical love-walk-and-talk life where kindness, love, joy and peace rules. That means we are lovingly different -- extending His love freely and unconditionally to others.

After I posted my blog about "taking the high road", I read my devotional for yesterday. It also spoke about "taking the "high road" by never returning evil for evil – no matter what someone says or does to us. For example, when a relative makes a hurtful comment, rather than retaliate with a nasty comment or text back -- "take the high road"! It's not easy taking the high road, but with Jesus’ help, we can conquer evil with love.

I’m apologizing for the times I’ve allowed myself to look at others and think “How could they? Why would they? I would NEVER make that choice!” Father, please forgive me, because “but, for the grace of God – there go I”. Luke 6:37 says “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…” I have no right to judge because I don’t know how it feels to be rejected, hated, or considered untrustworthy because of the color of my skin. I don't know how it feels to be hated for merely existing.

I have no right to judge because I don’t know the struggle of not identifying with my gender. I was born with the chromosomes of a woman and I can’t imagine wanting to be anything but a woman. I have no right to judge because I don’t know the frustration and helplessness driven by an addiction. I’ve never been burdened with an all-consuming desire to consume a substance over and over again while knowing that doing so could kill me and destroy my family.

I DO KNOW, i’s time for us to connect with our brothers and sisters in this human race, to remember our need for each other, to act upon loving our neighbors in the spirit that Jesus asks us to love in Mark 12:30-32. It should stir us into action every time we’re tempted to turn away from trying to understand and comfort another. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

It’s difficult to wrap our minds around the chaos and the actions of our fellow man, but it’s not about the why, who, what, when and where. It’s about God's love running through our veins, our hearts and our minds because LOVE conquers all.

Sign Me Up – I’ll Campaign for Him

In my email box yesterday morning was the news that the Democrats' presidential primary debate (last night) was narrowed down to the top twelve who met the polling and fundraising criteria. Now the rest of the candidates who demanded a lot of media attention before, will be overlooked when it comes to presidential consideration this term..

Overlooked means “being unnoticed”. I know that there is someone reading this blog that feels overlooked today. Maybe it is because you aren’t outgoing and prefer it that way. Maybe you were overlooked on a job promotion or overlooked at school because you were the quiet, less-commanding-attention-one.

That’s why, in my blog yesterday and today, I’m campaigning for Jesus. There are many things I love about Him but the thing I notice and love Him for so much is He doesn't overlook anyone. He went out of His way to bring hope to the rejected and outcast. It didn’t matter what others thought. He paid attention to everyone.

Matthew 4:24 says “..and His fame went out”. The cause of His fame is seen in verse 23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness." When He healed a man of leprosy in Luke 5, “the report about Him went abroad” and as a result more people came to hear Jesus’ message and be healed by Him! Jesus’ fame took Him from obscurity to rock star status. It took Him from being an undiscovered talent to being the most sought after Man in the entire Holy Land, all because people were spreading the news about what He had done for them.“. He didn't even need social media!

So here I am today – actually everyday – being a reporter of His powerful work in me. He made me a survivor. Along with all those in the Bible that He didn’t overlook – He didn’t overlook me. So I MUST spotlight Him.. Has God done anything for you in the past week? Have you told anyone about what He’s done? Who will you tell? Together, we can make Jesus famous.

The first place where you and I can start is in our own little worlds. When we read the Great Commission in the gospels, we are told to make Jesus famous…to all nations and to the entire world (Acts 1:8). But the starting point is Jerusalem, the very place where the disciples are located. He says first make Me famous right where you live. The places we live, learn, work, play, shop. We can make Jesus famous by serving/loving the people around us. We can make Jesus famous through prayer. We can make Jesus famous by relying on the Holy Spirit. And we can make Jesus famous by speaking of His greatness.

Seriously, the world has its eyes on you and me. What is it about those Christians who live out love and only speak about love? Let’s make Jesus famous by consistently shining a spotlight on Him through the lives we live and the people we love.

“It is Jesus we preach, warning every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians1:28).

Floccinaucinihilipilification – Our Words Matter!

Our words matter but does the word, floccinaucinihilipilification, one of the longest words in the dictionary, really matter? I can’t say that I’ll ever use it in a talk, but it brought me inspiration for today’s post. It came up randomly in a pop-up advertisement. It intrigued me and I even looked up its origin. Back in the eighteenth century, Eton College had a grammar book which listed a set of words from Latin which all meant "something of little or no value". In order, those were flocci, nauci, nihili, and pili (which sound like four of the seven dwarves). "Fication" was tagged on at the end and now it means the “action or habit of estimating as worthless or no value.” That, my friends, is a word that no one should ever speak over you because you and YOUR words have great worth and great value when they are especially God’s words flowing through you.

We do matter and so do the words we speak. I’ve been given words of life and I pay attention to others to pay it forward and offer them words of life. When I saw a couple of dear friends going through some challenging times, I knew I needed to encourage them. I paid attention and I wanted to help them use the RIGHT words that will help produce a harvest of blessings. Oftentimes our words of negativity can be what digs up the seeds of faith and hope that we’ve planted. So, when the pressure comes, it is vitally important to use faith-filled words of hope and expectation.

As I read the Bible, I fall more and more in love with Jesus. He noticed people and usually they were the people that others overlooked -- the rejected, the outcasts, the crippled, the thirsty, the broken and the sick. He cared about them and often went out of His way to speak to them. He paid attention them. He gave them His voice. Sometimes He would have detailed conversation with strangers like the Samaritan woman at the well. He gave her words of life, and because He did, she brought truth to an entire village. Many were saved because she received words of life. And, she gave words of life.

You, and your words, may be the exact, one-of-a-kind expression of God’s love someone needs today. It doesn’t matter how loud your voice is. What matters is using the one He gave you. It doesn’t matter how much speaking experience you have or how many Bible verses you know. What matters is you caring and sharing your own unique story of God’s amazing grace and how you made it through your own set of challenging situations.

You are positioned within your family, friendships and community to offer something only you can. Offer your voice. Offer words of life to someone today. Be a life giver. That’s all God asks us to do. When we step out in faith and trust that He is speaking through us to others, lives change. All we need to do is watch and listen for the right moment to us words of life to change a life!

WANTED for Stealin' Farrah's Hair

I love it when my FB timeline pops up with one of my old posts or a photo that someone posts of me that floods me with some precious AND some crazeeee memories. This photo was from a Western Party that I attended a few years ago. I was on the WANTED list for stealin' Farrah's Hair -- $50,000 Reward. LOL! Actually, that hairdo did come from Farrah's era (the late 60s & 70s). I guess I was a Farrah-wanna-be -- well, at least her hair and maybe I had an attachment to Ryan O’Neal – her love interest for many years -- so much so we named our son, Ryan! Another – LOL!

Where I'm going with today's post isn't about Farrah OR her hair. It's about being wanted. I don’t know your history -- how you came to be here at this place and at this time. I don't know if you were ever rejected and made to feel UNWANTED. I don't know if you were a "wallflower" at that school dance or if you had a long line of fellas waiting to dance with you. I don't know if you've received a pink slip after pink slip on jobs that just didn't click for you. I don't know if the love of your life walked out on you for another or if you've never known the love of your life. But I do know this: YOU ARE WANTED!!!

Before you were conceived in your mother's womb, the God of the Universe planned you – each intricate detail of you and gave you breath. Your life is His proclamation of "I want him/her in this world at this specific time, in this specific place, for reasons that only he/she can fulfill."

When God was handcrafting and designing you -- His Masterpiece, He included your strengths, your talents, your gifts, your eyes, your nose, your goofiness or your seriousness. He put it all together and created the miracle of YOU!

Whatever has happened along the way of your journey to this day, His purpose for you still remains strong. God is still saying “You are WANTED". He is still saying “There is a purpose for you being here and I have plans for you -- to prosper you and not harm you -- plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Don't ever listen to the lies of the thief who wants to steal you of your wantedness. Rejection is a thief and a liar. Don't listen to him when he tries to convince you you've failed too many times or you've messed up too much. That you took a wrong turn somewhere and you can never get back on track. That there is something “wrong” with you or everything in your life would be right. Just don't listen to those lies.

Instead, lean into your Father -- the ONE that made you and brought you here to this place at this time. Let Him tell you again, “You are mine. You are chosen. You are accepted. You are cherished. You are my prized possession -- my masterpiece."
Yes, YOU ARE WANTED -- but for how much? You are PRICELESS -- a one-of-a-kind ORIGINAL. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!
#WANTED

WANTED for Stealin' Farrah's Hair

Day 176 of Photo Inspirations -- WANTED for Stealin' Farrah's Hair
A couple of weeks ago, we had a Western Party at the community where I live.  I laughed as I walked in and saw that I was WANTED.....for stealin' Farrah's Hair -- $50,000 Reward.  Actually, that hairdo did come from Farrah's era (late 60s & 70s).  I guess I was a Farrah-wanna-be -- well, at least her hair, but we did name our son, Ryan!  LOL!

Where I'm going with today's post isn't about Farrah OR her hair. It's about being wanted.   I don’t know your history -- how you came to be here at this place and at this time.  I don't know if you were ever rejected and made to feel UNWANTED.  I don't know if you were a "wallflower" at that school dance or if you had a long line of fellas waiting to dance with you.  I don't know if you've received pink slip after pink slip on jobs that just didn't click for you.  I don't know if the love of your life walked out on you for another or if you've never known the love of your life.

But I do know this: YOU ARE WANTED!!!

Before you were conceived in your mother's womb, the God of the Universe knew you, planned you and gave you breath.  Your life is His proclamation of "I want him/her in this world at this specific time, in this specific place, for reasons that only he/she can fulfill."

When God was handcrafting and designing you -- His Masterpiece, He included your strengths, your talents, your gifts, your eyes, your nose, your goofiness or your seriousness.  He put it altogether and created the miracle of YOU!

Whatever has happened along the way of your journey to this day, His purpose for you still remains strong.  God is still saying “You are WANTED".  He is still saying “There is purpose for you being here and I have plans for you -- to prosper you and not harm you -- plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Don't ever listen to the lies of the thief who wants to steal you of your wantedness.  Rejection is a thief and a liar. Don't listen to him when he tries to convince you you've failed too many times or you've messed up too much. That you took a wrong turn somewhere and you can never get back on track. That there is something “wrong” with you or everything in your life would be right. Just don't listen to those lies.

Instead lean into your Father -- the ONE that brought you here and let Him tell you again, “You are mine. You are chosen. You are accepted. You are cherished. You are my prized possession -- my masterpiece."

Yes, YOU ARE WANTED -- but for how much?  You are PRICELESS -- a one-of-a-kind ORIGINAL.  Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!
#WANTED