God's Love and Power

Now there's a title! Growing up with Joyce as my mother, I learned much about God's love and power.  You'd think that knowing of his love and power would have made for a life free of trials.  But no, that's not the case.  You see being a believer in God means having a faith that takes one through even the most difficult of times.  One of those times came my freshman year in high school. 

That year my father was in a trucking accident.  During a normal work day a semi-truck driver accidentally rear-ended my dad's semi-truck, causing him to rupture one or more discs in his back.  It caused him much pain and much diagnosing before it was discovered that he would need surgery.  That surgery meant that he would not be working.  And in the 1980's much like today, hourly work was hourly work.  Which in translation means, no work- no pay.  So my parents had a decision to make and they opted for surgery.  Harder yet was the fact that workman's comp was refusing to pay for his surgery or time off and we were without money. 

I remember my mom getting up early in the morning to deliver newspapers.  She did this so we had enough money to get by.  Even with this extra work, it was not enough.  As a family we watched as our finances dissipated.  Yet my mom never lost faith.  She would always say, God will provide.  Now Christmas was coming and my mom was busying herself with the fact that we would likely not have Christmas gifts. She mustered up all of her know how and started making gifts with whatever she could find in our home. 

At the same time, I was needing a dress for our high school band concert and we could not afford one.  Now one might think that it would only make sense that I just use an old dress that I already had.  That would be logical however the dress had to be white and I did not own a white dress.  

My mom and I went "window shopping" as we often did.  You see even when my parents did have a full income, we had very little and we only got new clothes once a year.  We looked at dress after dress.  And I found my favorite.  It was this beautiful white dress.  I looked at the price tag and knew that we could not afford it.  The dress was $25.  This was half of my yearly allotment.  Oh man, was I heartbroken.  But then I did something. I selfishly and silently prayed and asked God for this dress.  I prayed that somehow, even though we had no money, that God would help us earn enough money to buy this dress.  Now when you are 14, you are not very smart about money.  What on earth was I thinking?  Really?!  We didn't even get an allowance! None-the-less, I hoped that something would fall in my lap.  

To my surprise it did.  I will tell you however, it was not at all what I expected.  After church one Sunday the pastor told my mom that there was a package for her in the back.  We went to the back of the church and the package had my name on it.  I was confused and so was my mother.  I opened the package and what did I find?  A dress.  Not just any dress though.  It was a white dress!  THE white dress I prayed for!  Wow!  What an answer to prayer!  But that's not all.  The wonderful person who purchased the dress for me, also bought my sister a sweater and a pair of pink corduroy pants.  We all sat there in awe.  My mom had tears rolling down her face as I said, "This is the dress I prayed for!"  

Now you may be a skeptic, and you may think this is all coincidence, but there is absolutely no way anyone would have known I prayed for this dress.  I told no one.  And there is no way my mother would have told anyone either because she and my father were far to proud to ask for a handout or to tell someone they couldn't afford a dress.  After all- my mom was the queen of saying, "God will provide."  And he did.  It was probably the first time I ever really had a prayer answered by God.  It was one of the first and many that he's answered. I since have learned to pray for things that are much less concrete and far more eternal.

 And with each prayer, I have the privilege of seeing his Love and Power unfold in my life.

On a side note- I cherished that dress so much that I had my senior pictures taken in it.  This is a special thanks to whoever listened to God that day and bought the dress!  

With that I share with you Pastor Joyce's word today on God's Love and Power. 

God’s Love and Power

God spoke to the people of Israel this timeless message through the Prophet Hosea when He said in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” They had been told of His redemptive nature and shown His great love for them as nation that He chose to deliver from the jaws of the world.  Yet they did not call on Him nor did they heed His direction that would bring to them abundant blessings.  In other words they refused to believe in that which they could not see and were captured by the things they saw.

We then, body of Christ, are no different than those who failed to grasp how great the Father’s love for them is. We read about it and know about it but we tend to stop at comprehending that it is cast abroad in our hearts by Him who gave His only Son for our ‘once and for all redemption’.  “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.” (John 3:16)

He didn’t stop there; according to Ephesians 2:17-19 it states, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend…and know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Plus we are seated with Christ in heavenly places and given authority over all the principalities and powers and might and dominion.

No enemy can stand against us because we are one in Christ and from the throne of grace we have been given a position of authority.  When we by faith believe this truth we will no longer make petition to the Father from what we see in the world; but we will prayer the prayers of the Father from the position of authority where we are in Christ and pray the will of the Father from heaven to earth.

Stand on His word and know that the powers and principalities of this world have no dominion over us and we will not be destroyed because of our lack of knowledge.

The Fight of Faith

Have you have been in a place in your life that you know you are supposed to do something, or for that matter, have been called to do something, but you doubt everything about it?  In times of doubt, we tend to overthink things, we try to control them ourselves, and we see opposition as a "sign" that surely we must be in the wrong place and time. 

When that happens we need to stop for a moment and think about what is going on.  A colleague of mine recently shared this with me.  He said we need to change the "story" we have been telling ourselves.  Now while this is absolutely true, sometimes this is easier said than done. A recent quote that came across my desk goes along with his advise though.  "You'll never reach your destination if you stop and throw rocks at every dog that barks".  Interestingly, both statements are true!  Do we tell our selves that we can't?  Do we tell ourselves that the "barking dogs" are in the way?  Faith doesn't ask us attack the obstacles that seem to be getting in the way of our mission.  Instead faith asks us to see through the opposition and keep on moving. 

I can say that too often I have willingly taken on a challenge that I knew wouldn't be easy.  I went in with eyes wide open, only later to doubt that I could actually do it.  Or for that matter, wondered if I was supposed to!  Faith doesn't ask us attack the obstacles that seem to be getting in the way of our mission.  Instead faith asks us to see through the opposition and keep on moving.  Pastor Joyce discusses the fight of faith with regard to Timothy and the Ephesian church.  As you read today, think about your Fight of Faith?  What is your calling?

The Fight of Faith: Pastor Joyce Wyrostek

Paul positioned Timothy in leadership over the Church in Ephesus.  The church was established by Paul as he spent three years building and equipping the saints there; it was a powerful church and drew people from the entire surrounding region.  Timothy had a big job on his hands and at times may have been overwhelmed by the oppositions that stood before him.

In his letter Paul writes to him; 1 Timothy 6:12, “ Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” And later Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity), but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Timothy was a born again, spirit filled believer who had traveled with Paul and ministered with him; eternal life was not an issue.  He knew that he was sealed by the spirit and had eternal life.  What Paul is referring to here is not life in the hereafter but the life now being lived on earth.  Eternal life is for the here and now; it is filled with every promise of God that comes with salvation, a life lived in complete and total victory in Christ Jesus. 

Paul is telling Timothy to stir himself up so as to live as he is seated with Christ at the right hand of God. Timothy need not be overwhelmed by the oppositions because he had authority over everyone and everything that came against him.

This timeless, changeless advice comes to us as we stand on the Word of God.  We must stir up the gift of God wherein we are called to take dominion over every circumstance in our life and act out the victory so dearly paid for on the Cross. Like a soldier in battle we grab hold of the promises and stand on them; never being moved by what we see, but fighting the fight of faith.

I'm back!

It has been 9 months since I last posted on this blog.  I thought today would be a great day to re-launch my blog as it is Joyce's birthday.  She would be 74 years old today.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her and the impact she had on the world around her.  She was always looking for a way to experience this greatness and wonders of God and to honor the one who she so faithfully served.  

Joyce had a love for life.  She was a mother, wife, athlete, mentor, scholar, leader, pastor, realtor, you name it, she tried it.  Much like Paul of the bible, Joyce was a stranger to no man.  She would step in an help wherever she was needed and would share the love of Christ through her actions, be they ever so subtle, or an all out in your face sermon.  She was no stranger to the miracles of God. 

One of my fondest memories was hearing her tell us to wait.  She'd say, "It's all in God's time".  Oh the frustration that would bring.  Later however, her words would ring in my ears and in my heart.  Because of her unyielding faith, I am proud to say that she left us a legacy of faith and hope.  I share with you today her word for the day on timing.  Enjoy as you ponder her writing on God's perfect timing.  

Timing

In Acts 3:2 tells us, “a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple.” Daily people who came to worship or pray passed by this man and laid money at his feet.  It was the only way he could make a living. If he had been there every day for years it means that Jesus passed by Him many times during His times at the temple in Jerusalem; yet Jesus never laid hands on him. 

An interesting fact is revealed about this gate called Beautiful…in the original language it is translated ‘hour, time, or the right time.’  When Peter and John came for the hour of prayer it was now the ‘the right time’; the gate of heaven opened and when the name Jesus was spoken a creative miracle happened. Everyone in the city knew the man who daily came to the temple begging alms, when they saw and heard Peter explain by what means this miracle happened about 5000 believed.

God has a plan that is bigger than we know that includes much more than we can see in the natural; when we doubt and become discouraged by the delay in what has been promised we may slip into unbelief.  We must stand guard against the thoughts that attempt to provoke us into believing anything other than what God has said and promised in His word.

One day and suddenly we will see heaven open and the Spirit of the Lord will deliver all that He has said, but it is in His timing when everything is positioned to bring forth more than what we could ask or even think.  As we are waiting we will just keep praising Him for at the ‘right time’ we will be seated at the gate called Beautiful. 

Look to Jesus- the story of Greatness

Have  you ever had one of those days where you feel absolutely exhausted and wonder to yourself, where am I going with this?  What is the purpose?  I believe at certain points in our lives many of us think these thoughts.  Maybe not on a daily basis, but instead when we become tired, overwhelmed, or plain exhausted.  There are even times when we think, "forget it!" And we reflect on our priorities only to gain that second wind and press on toward the "finish line".

Recently I heard about some of the heroes in our history.  Men who, despite obstacles, despite the cost to their own health and welfare, persevered and stood where others might fall.  Eric Metaxis, author of Seven men and the Secret of their Greatness, shared the story of two very famous men in our history.  Two men who sacrificed more than we could ever imagine so that we would be the America that we are today.  The first was George Washington.

Now in recent years we've heard that Washington was a slave owner and the argument that, if he was a slave owner, he could not have possibly been a good or great man.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not, nor have I ever been a proponent of slavery. However, we should never diminish a man's contribution to who we are today based on the culture of the time in which he lived.  What we don't hear though is that his views on slavery leaned toward abolition.  As I listened I found it interesting about George Washington was that he was not only tempted to be America's King, but he refused it. Instead he fought for democracy at any cost. He did much for building the infrastructure of the American Government and was even asked to sit for a third term.  Instead he felt that it was time for him to step down.  "Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

His parting words as President were,

The second man that he talked about was Jackie Robinson.  He spent the majority of his major league career playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  But the sacrifice to get there was far more than any of us could ever imagine.  He is known as the man who broke the racial barrier in major league baseball.  If you have ever heard or read his story, you know that he sacrificed everything.  Not just for himself, but for all others who would come behind him.

What I found most interesting about these two men, and the other 5 written about by Metaxis was that every single one of them spent time on their knees.  Not in weakness, but in strength.  Their strength was in Christ.  Both men knew that there was something greater than themselves.  And both men contributed to the change of our nation.  We may disagree as to what really made them great.  But I believe the secret to their strength was beyond earthly tenacity.  It was faith.

Both men persevered.  Pastor Joyce writes about the secret to their strength.

Look unto Jesus

That the ‘just shall walk by faith’ is not an issue with those who by ‘faith’ have accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb of God to take away their sins and prepare a place in heaven for us.  We are simply challenged to know how to do that on a consistent basis.

The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews is given to provide examples of men and woman as ordinary as we are that have gone before us and completed their course.  In the first two verses of Hebrews 12 we are given the answer, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside ever weight and sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”Hebrews 12:1

When we set aside those things that carry us off the mark of reaching the plans already written for our life we don’t consider them.  We will stumble, and fall but we will get up again because ‘it’s not over’. God will get the glory as we endure to the end (not in our strength but in His); for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained beforehand that we should walk in them.

When we focus our attention on Jesus who places faith in us and makes it complete in us we do not allow our faults and failures to determine our destiny.  Jesus has already done everything we just look at Him we see what He has accomplished in us and keep on going.  We run with patience and one day we will cross the finish line and lay our crowns at His feet giving Him all the praise and glory.

The Spirit of a Mother's Heart

Today I spent a wonderful day being blessed by my husband and my three children.  They adorned me with their time, gifts from the heart.  Each one gave exactly the perfect gift.  Truth be told, the greatest gift of all is hearing their voices and admiring the men and women they have grown up to be.  It is honestly one of my greatest joys.  And even more-

so, to share that with my husband as we have transitioned into the next season of our lives. 

I remember of the years as my family grew and I branched away from home hearing my mom say the very same thing.  I would ask her often what she wanted for mother's day, her birthday, or Christmas.  She never asked for anything but was always grateful for everything we gave her. One day I asked her again what she wanted and her reply was, "nothing, I have everything I ever wanted in you three girls".  

What she taught us over the years was to truly follow the one commandment that comes with a promise.  " Honor your mother and father that your days may be long on the land the Lord your God has given you" Exodus 20:12.  She also taught us to obey our parents which comes from Ephesians 6:1.  Even to this day as I write this, I didn't have to look up the exact words.  I was simply able to quote them. 

What was so beautiful is that she instilled this in us to such an extent that in all that I did I wanted to honor her.  As a matter of fact, the writing of this very blog is just that.  To honor her by publishing her writings.  Today she writes of the Spirit of a Mother's heart. 

The Spirit of a Mother’s Heart by Joyce Wyrostek May 2012

A number of the attributes of the Holy Spirit are seen in and reflected through the interaction between a mother and her child.  When the Holy Spirit resides in the heart of a woman she will nurture her child to be a seeker and lover of God’s own heart.

Isaiah 49:15 begs the question, “Can a mother forget the child whom she has nursed, or not feel compassion for the one she carried in her womb?”  In the same way the Spirit of God gives us life.  He is the breath of God, and the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ.  Without Him we can do nothing but with Him there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

So it is with a mother who encourages her child to be all that they can be; who never loses her attachment to the seed of her womb.  Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us but will be with us to the end of the age.  And it is equally present a mother’s heart, it is impossible for her to sever the ties that she feels for her own. 

The enemy would have us believe otherwise for if our mother would abandon us what hope do we have of the Spirit of God lifting us up.  But the Bible says such a thing is impossible; if at any time a child who felt abandoned by a mother would reach out for the mothers love she would freely give it regardless of the breach that may be present between them.

Truth be told, there is nothing, no matter how bad it may seem that will ever be able to separate the love and longing in a mother’s heart for the life of her children.  The Bible says there is nothing fiercer than a bear robbed of her cubs.  Mother’s do not allow for the mistreatment of their children without a fight.  Today is the day to honor the mother who would lay down their life for you.

Fear v Faith- Being Courageous

Every day we face moments that allow us to be defined by our next move.  In business sometimes we have to have that courageous conversation with an employee who is not performing satisfactorily.  As educators we have to talk with parents of an under performing student. Coaches tell their athletes where they need to improve.  And there are even those times when we have to tell be completely honest with a friend or family member about their behavior.

The bottom line is choosing the right conversation for the right time.  Sometimes remaining silent is the easy thing to do.  Other times it is exactly what needs to happen.  But the times when you need to speak up are sometimes the hardest.  Usually, when we choose to remain silent it is because we fear the outcome.  The scenarios of what will happen run through our head.  " Will she hate me?"  "Will I get fired?" " Will they ever speak to me again?"  None of that matters though if remaining silent will cause more harm than to take the chance to change someones life by simply telling the truth.

When we think about the first scenarios we understand that an under performing employee has a negative impact on business.  If we ignore an under performing student and say nothing, he or she will fail.  Coaches want their athletes to be the best and must, in some instances, be brutally honest.  And in relationships with friends and family, to remain quiet strains everything.

Pastor Joyce provides us with a great teaching on fear vs faith.  As you read  her words today, think about a time when fear may have stopped you from something that you are absolutely called to do. Maybe its a conversation that will be extremely difficult.  No matter what, FEAR NOT.....

Fear vs. Faith by

Joyce Wyrostek April 27

Fear by definition is: a distressing negative sensation by a perceived threat; it is an innate emotion that almost always relates to future events such as worsening of a situation, or continuation of a situation that is unacceptable.  God says, “Fear not” 365 times in the scripture, so obviously it is an emotion that can be overcome.

Fear is the antithesis of faith and only the faith of God, that which is born in us at our spiritual re-birth can overcome it.  Faith is a characteristic of one who is justified and made righteous by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We do not overcome fear by the works of the flesh as the world would have us believe by proclaiming that we must face our fear if we are ever to overcome it.

When the just walk by faith as declared in scripture it means that fear has been cast out, and we can walk in complete confidence and trust that God is willing and able to do all that He says He will do; “With man it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible.”(Mark 10:27)

Every time fear overtakes our emotions it causes us to be anxious and we are hindered from doing the will of God in our life.  God does not ask us to do anything that He is not capable of doing through us.  Our fear then comes from thinking that God wants us to do a thing that we cannot do, and thus He cannot do.

What we often fail to realize is that faith is a gift from God.  The minute we say, “Yes Lord” he gives us the ability and capability to perform whatever feat it is that He is asking. And more often than not it is supernatural and bypasses our natural thought processes.  If we ponder a thing long enough we can always come up with logical reasons not to follow through with the original God breathed plan.  

Double Minded

We all know that person who we would call "wishy washy". They can never seem to make up their mind about anything.  They seem indecisive, and question themselves constantly.  There is that moment when they are constantly angst, second guessing everything, and you want to yell, "Stop!  You know what is right.  You've  got this!"

It is so odd that I write this, because this is exactly who I have been as a runner lately.  I have been a runner since I was 12 years old.  Never in my life did I worry.  I just trusted the coaches, God, and used the gift of running to Glorify him.  Somehow, somewhere I lost sight of that.  What is even more interesting is that Pastor Joyce has passed away her words seem to be ready for this very day.  Right there to say- Stop! You know what to do!  You've got this! I'm sure they are not only helpful to me, but I am guessing they are helpful to someone else as well.  She never wrote a blog without praying first that it would be exactly what the reader needed.  

What is even more interesting is that as I write each of these blogs, I am taking Pastor Joyce's writing in chronological order.  I do not choose one writing to fit my mood for the day, but rather allow my writing to fit her words.  Her writing about faith in God and trusting his promises is unwavering.  She was a woman who never seemed to worry.  Though I know that when she did she would sing.  One of her favorite songs had the words, "Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift up  your voice to God.  Pray in the spirit and with understanding, Oh magnify the Lord".  You see, even when she doubted, she would shake off the doubt and focus on God and his promises.

As you read her teaching today, I encourage you to reflect on an area in your life where you are "wishy washy" aka double minded.  And give it to God!

Double Minded By Joyce Wyrostek April 21

In the first chapter of James we read, “If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who give to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

It is quite comfortable for us to quote the word back to God and remind him of His promises to us and perhaps even expect that we will be perpetually blessed. Our faith is often activated by a powerful message from the pulpit and we are ready to receive only to be left unsatisfied at the altar.

We need wisdom to discern what it is that is hindering the appropriation of our blessing and so we go to God and hear nothing.  Somewhere lingering in the subconscious is a deceptive spirit that has caused us to doubt in our heart, which according to James makes us double minded tossed like the waves in the ocean.

A double minded person leans on their own understanding and confuses their own wisdom or the wisdom of others as that of God.  We can’t decipher the voices instructing our heart and peace escapes us; confusion takes over and we abandon our search of truth.  It is in this state that we are ineffectual and cannot be used by God to advance His Kingdom.

This may be caused by iniquity hidden in our hearts over past offenses, disappointments (even with God), unforgiveness, or other strongholds in the recesses of our hearts.  The Holy Spirit is on call 24/7 to reveal anything and everything that we need to come undefiled into the throne of grace and receive the instruction needed to have perfect fellowship with the Father and acquire the wisdom that only He can give.  Let’s quiet ourselves before the Lord with a humble and contrite spirit so we can activate Kingdom principles in perfect love.

The Future

I've come across many people in my life as an athlete.  Those who were so afraid to try something that that they defeated themselves before they even started, and those who knew absolutely no fear.  Regardless of their disposition, their thoughts catapulted them to a future of athletic success or athletic failure.

Today I came across a preacher who summed up our future outcome in one sentence.  "Our habitual thoughts about ourselves are our identity". He basically summed up the verse, "for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7).  In non-Christian circles this is often referred to as the self-fulfilling prophecy. He did not tell us anything that has not been preached, researched or pondered over the years.  But he did remind us that whatever we focus on will direct path throughout life.

As a chubby little girl, I learned how to run.  Not just run, but run fast.  My goal was to win.  Never in my life did I think I would go on to be a regional champion, an all-conference runner, nor did I think that the times I ran were really fast.  I just wanted to run fast and win.  I had several people in my life tell me that I couldn't do "you name it".  Had I believed that, I would truly not be who I am today.  Instead I believed that I could do anything God set before me as long as I trusted him to bring me through.

Pastor Joyce writes a fabulous piece on achieving what God has set before us in the future.

The Future

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”(Jeremiah 29:11) We are on a brief journey through life on earth; in the process of learning to rule and reign with Jesus Christ.  This is a perilous trek through land mines, and booby traps, with arrows flying in every direction.

To make it through God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us (John 14:16), armor to shield us (Ephesians 6:10-18), a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) that can discern the tactics of the enemy, and a powerful weapon to bring total victory.  During the fight we must ever be mindful that there is always a future ahead of us.

At times we are tempted to think we can coast up a mountain, or drift up stream; neither can happen because when we lay our weapon down, or cease to engage in the battle we will lose our focus on the hope that lies within us and the future that has been prepared before the foundations of the earth were laid.

The future doesn’t just fall on us or overtake us in time; we are called to make the future happen by engaging in the now with every bit of energy bestowed on us by God our maker.  Daily we are to cultivate a relationship with the King.  It is in the step by step process that we learn what the future holds and what part we are destined to play in it.  As long as we have breath there will always be that great hope within us.

 When we place our faith and trust in God and know that what He says He will do, we strike a blow against the enemy and  promised peace in the midst of every storm. If we allow ourselves to get lazy, lethargic, or apathetic we will become pathetic representative of the destiny driven purpose of the Kingdom of God.  The future is what we make it, in His strength, and the power of His might – Thus we must be fully engaged in living.

Presumption

That moment when you are too smart for your own good.  Yes that moment happens to all of us regardless of our gifts.  This past weekend I ran the Big D half marathon.  I ran horribly.  I was trained well enough to run a good race.  But I got in my own head.  You see, there is a danger to being accomplished in anything.  We start to trust our own knowledge and the things we've studied.  And while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it can certainly get in our way.

As I was running I was calculating my splits, as I began to  tire I quickly started to think about the lactate thresh hold that I had been reading about this past week.  I thought for sure that was happening to me.  So.. I got discouraged. Dumb! Next,  I began to reflect on my recent runs that were exactly race pace.  My 15K race the week before provided an indication that there would be no problem.  As a matter of fact I calculated that if I ran my 15K pace exactly and ran my last 3.8 miles in 34 minutes I would have run a PR.  Instead I began to doubt my training.  Then I started to worry when my legs felt like they were cramping.  Finally, I walked twice totaling a half mile which robbed me of my PR.

What I did though, was defeat myself in my own thinking at mile 8.  Why?  Because I was literally over-analyzing. At mile 10 my sister's words ran through my head, " Quit over-analyzing and just run!"  Once I did that, I completed my race just fine.  2:05.27.  This is 8 minutes slower than my best.  A race I truly had not trained properly for, but one that I clearly didn't know better. So I didn't have a chance to get in my own head.

This can often be the problem with us when we are well versed in areas of our lives.  We begin to think we know everything (presumption) and often get in our own way.  Story of my life! Sometimes we even take the things we know about God like his holiness and his grace or his expectations for us,  and we make up our own rules.  This can be very dangerous as we run the risk of becoming moralists rather than being Christians.  Moralists tend to follow rules and impose sanctions on others while losing sight of God's plan.  Jesus did not tell us to go ye therefore and judge one another.  Instead he told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit (Mark 16:15).  By presuming, we lose sight of the purpose for whatever we are doing.

When that happens and we reach that area of presumption, sometimes we need to step back and just simply ask God for guidance, wait for the answer, and be patient.  Like my race, in which I knew what to do, but instead of trusting a process (my training), I presumed I was failing, thus I employed all kinds of stupid thinking and simply defeated myself.  Pastor Joyce writes of Presumption at it's finest in both the old and new testament.  Her words are bold and give us pause. As you read today, think about areas in your life where you just "presumed" because you forgot to be patient and simply trust in the plan.

Presumption- Joyce Wyrostek April 11

God was very specific when He gave instruction to Saul, through the prophet Samuel, about how He wanted the Amalekites dealt with.  Saul did what He was commanded to do with one small twist; he made an executive decision that cost him the throne.

God knows what we do not know and when He gives a command He wants it done His way.  We do not know the hearts or obvious wickedness of the Amalekites, all we know is that judgment was pronounced against them when the Israelites were in the wilderness and it led to their ultimate destruction.  It is difficult for us in our finite wisdom to understand the righteous judgment of God so presumption could get us in trouble.

Imagine if Jesus while in the Garden of Gethsemane had decided that divine intervention would have proven to the world that God is all powerful.  In Matthew 26:53-54, when Peter came to His defense against His accusers Jesus said, “Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide me with twelve legions (about 80,000) of angels? How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must come about this way?”

At any time Jesus could have asked for a plan B, but there was no other way, and He was totally

submitted to the will of God spoken in the word of God.  God has not changed and is never changing in the sovereignty of His plan for all mankind.  He has a people (those who place their total trust and faith in Jesus) in whom He has made righteous to carry out His will on earth.

If we presume to know more than God as Saul did; he chose which of the enemy should be destroyed and saved the good for a sacrifice to God. All seemed right until he heard the words, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (good luck images).” I Samuel 15:22-23

Obedience is Key!

Youth Renewed

 Spring is a time for renewal and rebirth.  Trees begin to bud, flowers begin to bloom, we get allergies... I kid! Actually, it is a time for everything to begin anew.  In the mid-west and north east the snow  begins to melt, the air begins to smell fresh and beautiful, and the sun shines for more hours in the day.  In the south the flowers begin to bud and everything gets much greener.  The weather is perfect as it isn't too hot yet to enjoy, and its a perfect time of the year for outdoor activities. 

Sounds like a facebook post doesn't it?  Everything is perfect.  No one has any struggles, and life is picture perfect.  All of us know that isn't reality though.  We know that good things aren't simply free.  As a matter of fact, if we want to earn something good or great, we need to put in effort and hard work to achieve our goals.  Some might call this our passion.  Our passions can take pain and sacrifice that no-one ever really sees.   Whatever we choose to become requires dedication and time.  Not to mention sacrifice and possibly even some pain.  

Pastor Joyce writes of this in Youth Renewed.  she discusses the pain, dedication, and sacrifice one must take for renewal and growth.  As you read her word today I encourage you to ponder which race you choose to run.  Are you renewed daily?

Youth Renewed by Joyce Wyrostek-April 4

The Psalmist says of the Lord in Psalm 103:5 it is He who, “satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.”  Every promise of God is yes and amen, but they don’t automatically fall on us from heaven so we can live a struggle free life; biding time until we have run the course of life.  We are called to go in and possess the promises. This requires the process of thought captivity, study, mediation, and dedication.

Consider this about the eagle: It can live up to seventy years. But to reach this age the eagle must make a hard decision in his forties.  It’s long and flexile talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its long and hard beak becomes bent. Its old-aged and heavy wings due to their thick feathers become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly.

Then the eagle is left with only two options; die or go through a painful process of change that lasts 150 days. The process requires that the eagle fly to the top of the mountain and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against the rock until it plucks it out. After it is plucked out the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons.

When the talons are gone, new ones grow in their place at which time the eagle will begin pulling out its old-aged feathers and after five months the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for another 30 years.

Like the eagles we can choose to live a life that is long vibrant and productive.  And like the eagle we must go through the process of change. Ours is not one every so many years, our renewal is a daily process; some of the changes are painful and we struggle to continue until the process is complete.  But as we persevere we will see the effectiveness of renewal.

Preparation Time

Are you prepared?  That is always an interesting question.  Am I prepared for the marathon that I have entered in June?  To be honest yes?  I am prepared to the extent I can be at this point in the training plan.  I took the time to discover what plan I would need in order to run the coveted time I hope to achieve and have set my course.  So yes.  I am prepared.

But what about other areas of my life?  Am I prepared to handle financial stress?  Or am I prepared to handle losing a job, my health faltering, losing a family member, celebrations such as births, weddings, etc?  That is always a great question! And honestly, there are times in my life where I just don't want to plan and I just want to go with the flow.  Don't tell me you haven't felt that way too, because we all get there.  Sometimes we are in need of a few days to just let our hair down.  And then... we get back to the schedule of life and focus on our day to day lives.

We also know that if we are not careful, and enjoy that break too long it can come back to bite us.  Pastor Joyce has a few things to say about preparation time.  

Preparation Time March 

By Joyce Wyrostek

Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “...remember it is He (God) that gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore unto your fathers. " We know that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous and that as we have been faithful, God is going to bring blessings that we cannot contain.  This is truth and should capture our immediate attention because it is coming.

Wealth in the hands of men without definite purpose, lack of self-control, or of poorly regulated passions can be a detriment and a snare.  History has shown us that wealth poured out for ministry for those unprepared, was used for personal pleasure and has destroyed good men and women of God. They were simply not prepared to handle large sums of money at one time.

We have the promise of God to supply all of our needs according to His riches in Glory and I’m certain that we see that happening all the time in our life.  We have just enough to keep a roof over our heads and food in our belly plus enough left to occasionally enjoy frivolous spending.  But if we have been locked in a poverty mindset for an extended period of time and have no direct purpose or vision for the use of great wealth how can we be trusted to use it according to God’s intended purpose?

Each of us need to find a time with God so He can reveal His will and purpose for our life, that we may develop the vision, and as a pastor friend of mine ( Jim) quotes from Habakkuk “Write the vision and make it plan so those who read it will run toward it.” What part does He want you to play in this great distribution of wealth?

Devine Positioning

March 21, 2106

Divine Positioning

Most days as I write this blog, I share something current and then add the teaching of Pastor Joyce as a word to think on or ponder.  Today however this piece is different.  Pastor Joyce's words, though written four years ago, align with what is going on in the world today.   She writes:

"We must realize and get it imbedded in our hearts and minds that we are not just positioned where we are to build a church and get people saved.  We are where we are to expand the kingdom of God through dominion in the seven arenas that shape society; media, government, education, economy, religion, arts and family; if the devil controls these sectors darkness abounds.  The reason he has such a foothold at this time is because the Christians have abandoned their post by believing we are “not in this world” for any other reason than to be blessed and hang on till the rapture comes."

I believe many of us struggle with this.  As a Christian I spent many years feeling guilty because I was not in a specific church ministry.  I can honestly say, that church is not where I've felt called to serve.  Through the years I've worked with children who have been hurt, abused, neglected, and less fortunate.  As a result I loved them for who they are and taught them that they are worthy of love.  Several of them over the years would see my bible on my desk and ask me about it or inquire about my faith.  I only shared when they asked, and never pushed the boundaries of what is allowed in a public school.  One day I was bemoaning the fact that I should be more involved in the church.  I remember Pastor Joyce listening quietly and then gently reassuring me.  She said, "you are the church and you have been called to share Christ wherever he places you".  She explained that all of us are strategically positioned to be influence to those around us.  I love this next piece in her daily word:

"The exciting thing about this is we are a part of this strategic positioning in order to step into areas of influence taking the gospel with us.  God is pouring out His favor on current leaders and those that are climbing the ranks to the top until the Kingdom of God is established on the earth (“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”).  God has his Josephs, Esthers, and Daniels already in place and in an instant He will change the tide and those in holding patterns will be brought to the forefront. Through favor these men/women of God saved nations from disaster.  They lived their lives in complete trust in the God who saw to it they were positioned for His purpose and not one of them was made leader of a Christian nation…They led pagan nations – because it’s not God’s will that any should perish.  

How cool is this?  I believe the ultimate meaning of Go into all the world and preach the gospel... Mark 16:15, is written in her word for today.  As Christians it is not ours to hide in the backdrop.  It is not ours to ignore what's going on as long as it doesn't affect us personally.  But as Christians we are to take a place of influence in our world and share the love of Christ.  

As you enter into this week just before Easter, I encourage you to ponder, "What has God called me to do?"  And then do it with all your might!

Just a Thought

Well, yesterday was Super Tuesday.  We got to see some tempers flair, some people show their true selves, and others throw out garbage on the internet through social media.  I don't even need to share the headlines because I am sure you have seen all of them and then some.  

A friend of mine shared a thought that during the Republican debate the other day we saw history made.  Not history that would be in textbooks, or history that would make us proud.  But entertainment history.  She said that the debates were like watching a reality TV show where people simply are not mature enough to handle themselves and argued like a bunch of "fools" throwing meaningless insults at one another.  As a matter of fact, it was reported that there was really nothing of substance discussed as the candidates just spewed off foolish drivel toward one another.  One candidate even asked to be insulted so he could join the conversation.

Then there was the vote last night.  After the vote, there were clearly hurt egos as candidates continued to hurl slurs at one another.  There are very few people who are not dismayed by this behavior.  But...the vote is not done.  It is not over yet. Primary elections have to be completed throughout the United States.  With that in mind I just can't help but encourage people to vote with their eyes wide open.  Pastor Joyce shares some insight into the heart of the man.  Maybe as we choose our candidates, we need to ask who they are, what they believe, and what they are really saying.  Check out what she writes considering our thoughts and our actions. 

Just a Thought March 3

Solomon in all his wisdom penned the words in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...” Thousands of thoughts pass through our minds daily; we cannot stop them from coming but we can choose whether they will enter our heart or not.  Most thoughts are benign until they are entertained; the way we entertain them will bring us either life or death; a hardened or softened heart.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.” 

(Established means firmly fixed, unshakable, unmovable); therefore we can build a positive stronghold. This takes work and is a possibility for every believer.  We say, “Whose report will you believe? We will believe the report of the Lord.  In order to believe the report of the Lord we must know what that report is and receive it, speak it, and meditate on it until it moves from a thought and takes residence in the heart.

Paul in the first chapter of Ephesians says that when God raised Christ from the dead he, “…seated Him (Christ) at  His (The Father’s) right hand in heavenly places, far above all principalities and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”  He goes on to state in Chapter 2:6, “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

What that means to us is that every bit of authority Christ has imparted to Him in that right hand position is ours also.  It is in this place that we are given the thoughts of God toward any matter that affects the world we live in. 

Every thought that is contrary to what God’s word says is either from our own opinion or that of the enemy. That is why the Spirit says we must , “Cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captive to the obedience of Christ.” Ponder that!

Knowledge Without Truth- How do you make your Decisions?

I am re-posting this as today is Super Tuesday.  I could not think of anything better to write for a day when we get to choose.  We get to choose who will be on the presidential ticket as the man or woman who will run for president.  As you read today, I encourage you to ask yourself, " How much of what I know is actually the truth?"  

Good luck as you make your decisions today. 

Today I voted.  No, I will not divulge who I voted for.  I will say though that as the Presidential race heats up and as the candidates vie for our votes, I encourage you to research and seek the truth.  I have heard statements like, " I'm voting for Hillary because we need our first woman president."  I've also heard, " I'm voting for Trump because he's not a career politician."  Both statements are beyond absurd.  This is not to say that Hillary or Trump are the better candidate.  However, the reasoning behind either statement is not founded in truly knowing what either candidate stands for. 

I am a social media person as well as one who watches television, reads several online journals and newspapers, and I follow news outlets such as the BBC, Al Jazeera, the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, and several bloggers on twitter.  What I've noticed are sensational headlines that set out to discredit or bring some crazy accusation against a candidate.  You've read them I'm certain.  " Trump reveals the Illuminati", " Carson lied about his scholarship to West Point", " Bernie Sanders is proposing a tax increase if elected president", "If Hillary was telling the truth about wall street speeches she'd release them", " Cruz lies to voters telling them Carson has dropped out of the race".  The headlines go on and on. Some make us angry, some make us laugh, and after a while they desensitize us completely. But as you dissect each headline they all have this in common.  Each one is an effort to divide us from the truth.  The wise will seek the real truth, and be able to read through the headlines in order to make a decision for themselves. 

Pastor Joyce teaches us how knowledge without truth only serves to draw us down a path of ill informed decision making.  Before you read her teaching I leave you with this thought. As you cast your ballot during the primary season, make sure you know the truth about who you are voting for.  Don't let a headline or popular opinion draw the conclusion for you. Make sure you are so informed about the candidate that if you had to defend your choice, you would be able to convince anyone else to vote for your candidate. 

Knowledge Without Truth

The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that in the last days there will be those who will be so ‘self’ consumed they will have a form of godliness but do not love God.  He says of this kind that they are, “learning, learning ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth.”

Jesus said in John 16:13, “However, when He the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

Leaders in the Church and members in general may have the ability to quote ever passage of scripture and from their own acquired knowledge know more than most.  These scholars may have studied for years yet they still don’t know the truth.  They may impress the masses with their ability to explain the original Hebrew and Greek relating to the text but still don’t know the truth.

The truth of the scripture and that which makes it a living word; applicable to all current day issues, is only received and discerned by the Spirit.  We are told to test all the spirits that are speaking; this too can only be comprehended by the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is in us, but if we never listen to what He has to say about interpretation and application of the word we will fall into the same type of godliness that Paul describes to Timothy.  “They creep into households and make captives of the gullible loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.

When we read the scriptures and study text we must always seek the Holy Spirits guidance so that in these last and perilous times we are hearing what God is doing and can ignore the voices that seem to be godly but have no knowledge of truth.

Rugged Individualism

One of the greatest things about being an American is that we get to be individuals.  America was founded on a desire to seek freedom from state imposed regulations that served an Aristocracy rather than one that served the people.  The preamble to our constitution says, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

This preamble along with the constitution of the United States of America has given us the right to choose our leaders.  This week we enter into the week of Super Tuesday.  This is a week where we get to choose the candidates who will run for the office of president.  What we need to remember is that in America we get to be individuals.  We can vote for anyone we want.  And we can make decisions based on faith, on a gamble, on popular opinion, by being informed through research, you name it.  As American's we are not held the decision of the leader of the country.  We are truly one of the few countries that has this privilege. 

So what is the purpose of sharing this with you?  As Christians we have this right to individualism because we are Americans.  As Americans we are beyond blessed to have the freedom to live as Christians.  And in both cases we are charged with making decisions not just in accordance with our desires, but in accordance with the one whom we serve.  

 If you are a Christian I encourage you today to take some time to really pray about who you should vote for.  We do have the power to make a name for ourselves.  Not a name that slings mud, not a name that would hurt others through judgmental rhetoric, but a name that honors the one we serve.  I encourage you today to  make a name for yourself.  Step outside the mess and choose to be a rugged individual.   But don't do it for fame or fortune.  Choose it to honor the one who gives you the true freedom.  

Pastor Joyce shares what Rugged Individualism in the Christian faith really looks like.  

Rugged Individualism- Joyce Wyrostek February, 29

In our western culture and many other nations of the world we honor the ones how have made a ‘name’ for themselves and become embedded in history.  The world exalts sports heroes, lawless gangsters, movie stars who play a part yet do not have any idea who they are. In essence we envy the rugged individual who beats the odds of defeat through sheer determination.

Book stores are filled with best sellers that have titles such as;  How to Learn a Language in 30 days, 21 Days to Emotional Freedom, 10 Steps to Building a Successful Business, How to Cast Vision and Set Goals.  This is only a brief list, indicating there is no limit to anyone who will put their mind on what they want and go after it in hot pursuit.

The people of such a culture frown on the one who chooses to humble himself in the sight of the Lord.  Those who decide to pursue the plans of God declared in Jeremiah 29:11 are scoffed at , ridiculed and labeled as weak and out of touch with reality.

The Kingdom of God is the antithesis of the kingdom of darkness.  Jesus did not say His Kingdom would be comprised of individuals with personal agendas.  He said we would be servants, humble and lowly and He would lift us up.  Matthew 23:11-12, “The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Paul tells us that we are a collective body that becomes one at rebirth in Ephesians 4:5-6, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” It is in this oneness with the Lord that we are, “…fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working in the measure of every part” Ephesians 4:16.

In this union we are a force to be reckoned with and the gates of hell will not prevail against us…the only name that will be glorified is the name of Jesus.  Our rugged individualism gives way to robust oneness in the Holy Spirit.

Knowledge Without Truth

Today I voted.  No, I will not divulge who I voted for.  I will say though that as the Presidential race heats up and as the candidates vie for our votes, I encourage you to research and seek the truth.  I have heard statements like, " I'm voting for Hillary because we need our first woman president."  I've also heard, " I'm voting for Trump because he's not a career politician."  Both statements are beyond absurd.  This is not to say that Hillary or Trump are the better candidate.  However, the reasoning behind either statement is not founded in truly knowing what either candidate stands for. 

I am a social media person as well as one who watches television, reads several online journals and newspapers, and I follow news outlets such as the BBC, Al Jazeera, the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, and several bloggers on twitter.  What I've noticed are sensational headlines that set out to discredit or bring some crazy accusation against a candidate.  You've read them I'm certain.  " Trump reveals the Illuminati", " Carson lied about his scholarship to West Point", " Bernie Sanders is proposing a tax increase if elected president", "If Hillary was telling the truth about wall street speeches she'd release them", " Cruz lies to voters telling them Carson has dropped out of the race".  The headlines go on and on. Some make us angry, some make us laugh, and after a while they desensitize us completely. But as you dissect each headline they all have this in common.  Each one is an effort to divide us from the truth.  The wise will seek the real truth, and be able to read through the headlines in order to make a decision for themselves. 

Pastor Joyce teaches us how knowledge without truth only serves to draw us down a path of ill informed decision making.  Before you read her teaching I leave you with this thought. As you cast your ballot during the primary season, make sure you know the truth about who you are voting for.  Don't let a headline or popular opinion draw the conclusion for you. Make sure you are so informed about the candidate that if you had to defend your choice, you would be able to convince anyone else to vote for your candidate. 

Knowledge Without Truth

The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that in the last days there will be those who will be so ‘self’ consumed they will have a form of godliness but do not love God.  He says of this kind that they are, “learning, learning ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth.”

Jesus said in John 16:13, “However, when He the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

Leaders in the Church and members in general may have the ability to quote ever passage of scripture and from their own acquired knowledge know more than most.  These scholars may have studied for years yet they still don’t know the truth.  They may impress the masses with their ability to explain the original Hebrew and Greek relating to the text but still don’t know the truth.

The truth of the scripture and that which makes it a living word; applicable to all current day issues, is only received and discerned by the Spirit.  We are told to test all the spirits that are speaking; this too can only be comprehended by the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is in us, but if we never listen to what He has to say about interpretation and application of the word we will fall into the same type of godliness that Paul describes to Timothy.  “They creep into households and make captives of the gullible loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.

When we read the scriptures and study text we must always seek the Holy Spirits guidance so that in these last and perilous times we are hearing what God is doing and can ignore the voices that seem to be godly but have no knowledge of truth.

Walk in Love

Today I had the privilege of listening to Monty Williams, the head coach of the New Orleans Pellicans give his wife'e eulogy.  One might wonder how that could be considered a privilege. What I witnessed however was nothing less than.  Monty Williams was widowed last week due to a head on collision.  His wife's death left him to raise 5 children on his own. 

His eulogy paid great homage to his wife.  Greater yet the eulogy honored the God of the universe.  To the Jews he is called Yeshua Hamachiach.  To Christians he is called Jesus Christ. Mr. Williams honored Christ, and honored his wife's service to all that matters in life.   He went on to tell us that we need to pay attention to what really matters. He said, " What Jesus did on the cross...that's what matters." Then he did something incredible.  He expressed Christ's love to the family of the driver of the other car.

His exact words were, “Let us not forget that there were two people in this situation, and that family needs prayer as well,” Williams said. “And we have no ill will toward that family. That family didn’t wake up wanting to hurt my wife. Life is hard — it is very hard — and that was tough. But we hold no ill will toward the Donaldson family.”   

Wow!  this is one of the greatest testaments to walking in love that I have seen in a long time.  Monty Williams could have stood at the pulpit mourning and crying for justice

or wishing ill will on his "enemy".  Instead, he showed grace to a family who is also facing a life without a loved one.  

As you read Walk in Love today, take a moment to remember the grace we have all been given. I encourage you to extend that grace to someone else today.  Even if, in the world's eyes, they don't deserve it. 

Walk in Love Joyce Wyrostek - February 23 

In Ephesians 5:2 Paul says, “And walk in love, as Christ has loved us and has given Himself as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”  Loving as Christ loved is a journey of sacrifice beginning with a choice.  We assume that love is a feeling that overtakes us; that when it strikes we have little control over the course it will take.  However in the way that it is addressed throughout scripture love is a choice.

To truly walk in love we set aside self for the sake of another.  Paul states it this way in Philippians 2:3-5, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others.”

There is no pre-packaged formula for loving another.  There is no add and stir recipe for the love of God to gush forth.  We choose to make loving others a priority that is right next to that of loving God.  Jesus commanded (not suggested) in Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

When we make the choice and commit ourselves to obeying the command, something supernatural begins to happen within the Spirit man which when yielded to changes our heart and brings the outward flow of what has been worked in the Spirit that we reflect the Love of God through us.  Our difficulty is often we attempt to convey to others something that has not been made complete in us – yet.  As we sit together with Christ in heavenly places we get changed from Glory to Glory – So stay seated and marvel at the Love of God for you first.