3.26.12 love one another

God tells us to love one another. Sounds so easy and yet, sometimes it is SO HARD. That person, that one person. Yep. We all know one. For some, I AM that one. Whatever the reason…. Bossy, whiny, bully, obnoxious, sarcastic, witchy*… Sometimes it is hard to look past the obvious and see the inner workings, the inner beauty, the stuff that makes us special. Instead we see the outermost pain in the butt specialness. My mother taught me to never hate anyone and yet, I find myself occasionally (rarely, thank goodness) thinking that I hate so and so. Not only am I letting down my mother and myself but I am letting down God. God created each one of us unique in his image. He gave us each special traits and personalities. He sees the good in all of us and he wants us to view it in each other. For how can we spread his love when we are condemning and judgmental. The answer to that is simple. We cannot. Only through sharing his love, spreading his love, living his love, can we truly love and worship him. So on those occasions where someone is getting on your very last nerve and that horrendous word is about to come out, try looking for something good about that person. Are they a good mother or a good brother? Do they smile often or give generously? Faced with it, you should be able to find something redeemable in that person. Somewhere they have a mom or dad that loved them. They cannot be all bad, right? Love one another…. Hmmm…. Seems we should at least give it a shot. (A favorite trick of mine is the whole kill them with kindness thing. Hey. It often works. You have that grumpy, never smiles, obnoxious stick in the mud. Every time you see them, smile real big (yes, its ok to be fake) and say hey in your cheeriest voice. You do this every single time regardless of the response that you get from them. Sooner or later, they crack. You will be surprised. Some of the people you write off as a lost cause can turn into some of the nicest people. Huh. Who da thunk it?)

Bible verse for the week:

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:12

Thought for the week:

People make it hard – God makes it easy.

Bible Fun for the week:

Some corny jokes to start off your week….

A pastor decides to visit some of his flock on a Saturday afternoon. He knocks at a door. Her thinks he hears someone inside but no one comes to the door. The pastor takes out a business card and writes on it Rev 3:20 which says, "I stand at the door and knock if you but open the door I will come in and eat with you and you with me."

On Sunday his card appears in the collection plate on it is written Gen 3:10 that says, " I heard your voice from the garden but I was afraid I was naked and I hid myself."

·         What is the most popular vegetable in the Bible?

Lettuce……Let us give thanks, Let us praise the Lord, Let us humble ourselves…

·         How many Apostles can you fit in a car?

All of them. It says in Acts "...they met in one accord."

·         What kind of lights did Noah use on the ark?

Flood lights.

Hey – I told you that they were corny. J

Here are a few verses to see if you can identify. You can match them with the answers below.

Love One Another Bible Verses

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Romans 13:8  

Galatians 5:13  

Ephesians 4:2 

1 Peter 1:22 

1 John 4:7