Love and Motives

Picking up from where we left off a few days ago...
First let me say this... I've had a TREMENDOUS week of breakthrough...  Breakthrough that I have been praying for -- lets see... for years in some cases... When God does a thing, he does a thing WELL.  Hold on and be encouraged.  You may have some moments where you feel that God doesn't see or hear you... But hold on...  Just hold on...
----
OKAY!  So TLOW family, lets work on our love walk.  Now, if not one person gets anything out of this but me- then I'm okay.  Because I am DETERMINED that my love walk honor God.  Does that mean I put up with everything?  Absolutely not... Does that mean that I won't set boundaries?  Surely not... But I will love, I will not walk in offense, I will not hold unforgiveness, I WILL NOT be led by my emotions... They are a tool for God to use for his glory, not the GPS for my life... So, this is for me too - gotta make sure I'm in LINE!
Lets roll...
Okay, so lets just be real.  There has been one time or another where our motives where not godly... There were times when we were looking out more for ourselves than for others...  There were times when we did things, or said things- KNOWING it would hurt someone else- because we know how it goes... "Hurt people, hurt people".

Its true...  We can all recall a time when we were on the "giving" end of the business... Where we were so offended or upset- that we just let someone have it.  There have also been times when we were affected by the actions of others- and you KNEW their motive was to hurt you.  You knew they wanted to hurt you - because THEY were hurting...
We sometimes don't remember how we dished it out now that it's time to take it... LOL...
Also, if you are always on the receiving end of the business- then it may be time to set some new boundaries in your relationship.  Constant abuse will cause you to have a "victims mentality"... You know when you are dealing with a victims mentality because it's always... "Why me"...  "When is it my turn"... "Everything good happens for everyone but me"...    We have to work hard to let those things go so that we can move forward.
I was talking to one of my ma-ma's, and she said this, "When you have forgiven or released someone, the thoughts against them will come back, but you have to remind that familiar spirit that you have released and forgive them, and you don't accept those thoughts about them- at all.  Eventually, it will stop".
I am a living witness of this.  I have been working in OVER-TIME the past few weeks to get my heart right with quite a few things.  Been working on ME.  Thats hard! LOL- can I get a witness????
I really feel that I have made tremendous head-way and that I am in a whole new season.  If that old stuff tries to come back, it will get dismissed with the quickness.  I am NOT going back to those places again - not doing it.
1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Whoah...  It's just hitting head on isn't it?  This scripture is about MOTIVE.  It didn't say,  give my possessions to the poor and give my body,  I gain nothing... it says, if you do that - SO THAT YOU MAY BOAST... and you don't have love...
I am strong believer in giving.  Give to live.  I LOVE to give- in many ways-  there are many ways you can sow into the lives of others.  Financially may not always be available, but don't beat yourself.  Sow a phone call, sow some encouragement, sow an ear to listen to someone who needs to be heard.  Babysit for a couple who needs some get away time.  Call someone you know needs some assistance, and tell them you will come help them get organized.  Some ways to sow won't cost you anything but time.  Be creative- thats what I do anyway...
BUT... If you do all of that- and your goal is to boast ( Talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities) then, you have your reward...  Now, let's be honest... We are talking about MOTIVES right???  Just because you say, "God gets all the glory" - doesn't really mean that... But you knew that right??  Thats just like winning a BET award for your new song, "Slap dat Hoe in da Mouth"- and accepting the award thanking your Lord and Savior  Jesus Christ- because without him this would not be possible... LOL!  It's the truth!  If God is not in it - he's just not in it.   PEOPLE may be fooled with the whole, "Glory to God" thing, but Jesus knows the truth - AND  so do those that have discernment...
I'm just sayin.  Do all of that- you gain NOTHING.  Well, you may gain more stuff... More followers who want to believe that God is in it, but they see stuff- stuff is not always FRUIT.  Remember that...  Heaven holds your fruit.

What does your heavenly tree look like? 










I want my tree to have BIG FRUIT- so that just because people come near me, or have a simple conversation, they can get a nice, big, juicy piece of fruit off and just slurp it up!  Can you imagine sitting having a conversation with someone about the Lord, or just giving good wisdom, or just loving, encouraging or motivating them??  
I'll stop there for today... This is going to be a good series- we will start on the attributes of love on the next blog...
God Bless!  and Keep the King First...
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I Love You... Sike!

HUH?
I crack me up... Coming up with these titles are some times just as fun as writing them.  I love the word of God, it holds so much truth and value.  There has been an acronym given to it,

I agree totally with this, but disagree to some degree.  There is nothing basic about these instructions.  They are very intricate, detailed, given in grace and doable...  sometimes... maybe- well- YES!  DOABLE...
Today children, we are going to talk about love. I know, you know the scripture, love is patient, kind, ladi-dah- ladi-dah-- 1st Corinthians 13.  We are going to discuss that scripture, but we are also going to discuss others.
The love is God is paramount.  That's what todays blog was SUPPOSED to be about, but I realized something, we talk, sing, preach, and wear t-shirts ((yes I have one)) about the love of God but how often do we show it?  We SAY we do, but we are about to take a journey to analyze our actions to see if we are truly walking in love.
Christians can be the meanest people... LOL- But not us TLOW family!  We are going to walk through this thing, and allow the word to be a two edge word and cut the junk away so we can honor God.  We all thank God for grace, but do you continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid.  We get up on our stages, pulpits, our jobs, and we proclaim the love of God, but sometimes our actions, motives and behaviors say the COMPLETE  *touch your neighbor and say complete* OPPOSITE of what we are professing... Confusing folks- and you wonder why they won't get saved?  No- it is a wordly misconception that you must be perfect as a Christian, if you do one little thing, you are labeled a "hypocrite", I know, its terrible.  No room for error.  But we were already told that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
Do the best you can, and show people that God still loves you even though you make mistakes, and even though you fall short.
So lets look at some scripture and have a good ole' down home bible study.
Here is our foundational scripture

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

—John 13:34-35

- By the end of these blogs, you will prayerfully ((me too)) understand what it means to love someone, because how you SHOW the love of God to others, is how people will know that you are a disciple of Jesus.  HOW YOU LOVE...
-Not by your T-shirts ((don't judge me)), your church attendance, how many friends you have, how much stuff you have, not how much stuff you DON'T have.  Not by what you drive, not by what you DON'T drive.  CLEARLY not based on how much you accomplish for the "kingdom"- or your church.
All of those things have their place- don't get it twisted- we need not be imbalanced or deceived.  But those things are not the sign on your forehead that says, "I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST".  It's just not...
Here we go... step by step.  **DISCLAIMER** I'm not talking TO or about anyone specific.  WE ALL need to work on our love walks, especially as worshippers--- I'm going to step on YOUR toes- AND MINE!
#thankGodforGrace
1 Corinthians 13
¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
-Now, have you ever heard a cymbal?  Sounds pretty good when it's played in concert with the other instruments.  But when you get a cymbal that is just rouge... just playing for no reason, no purpose, you know... CLANGING!  You just want it to shut up!---- Can you imagine your worship or your ministry sounding like that to heaven?  Can you imagine, you getting up to lead worship, minister, preach, teach, or whatever, the congregation is shouting you down, if you could get paid for every amen or every hand lifted in the sanctuary, you would be rich!!!  But heaven is like...  "What is that noise- oh my gosh!  Can you all turn that down please?????"...

yeah...  See we feel that we have "arrived" or accomplished something because the PEOPLE are pleased.  But you have to remember, if you are leading worship- many of them can get in the presence of God WITHOUT YOU... So though it's some sincere worship, don't pat yourself on the back juuuust yet.  Then you have the whole emotional card.  We all know how that goes...  What matters more than ANYTHING- is what does HEAVEN think about what you are rendering?   Would the angels want to join in with you singing?
Verse 2:If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
NOTHING???
hmm...   I don't even really know where to start with this one...  You must remember this... GOD LOVES HIS CHILDREN... and if your love walk is jacked up, he's going to deal with you --- but he shouldn't have to make EVERYONE suffer because you are out of line... Again, it's the benefit of the people that matters...  What does heaven think of you while you are releasing your prophetic words and teaching your mysteries...  Does heaven think you are somebody???  hmmm...

to people YES-- but who are you in heaven?

We will stop there for today... Its gonna be a wild ride- time to get right church!!!  LOLOL
God bless... and Keep the King FIRST...
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I'm A Murderder- and Still Loved (Special V Day Edition)

I must confess...  I am...  You see the sin that I hadn't even committed yet contributed to a
heinous crime.  You see, Jesus was made a public spectacle.  Embarrassed more than we will ever understand.  Tortured more than anyone should have to endure.  And was completely innocent.  Thats the thing... HE was innocent... But I wasn't.  I believe that Jesus loves me so much, that if it meant my freedom, he would have done it just for me.

Yes... love begets love...  Pay it forward kind of thing... Just like the saying goes, "Hurt people, hurt people", we should replace it- change our focus to "Love Begets Love"...  Because thats waaay better to focus on and meditate on than the hurt... Yes, we should deal with it, face it, overcome it.  But there is a love available that is indescribable...

Love begets love...

The more you receive, the more you should give it away... Take the time to learn what true love is... yes - our society has conditioned many to think that love is only about being in relationships, and being happy, and everything going your way... Kind of like a fairy tale...

But love is more than that.  Love is the ability to be PATIENT with others... Not just people you like. (i feel like i just cussed).  Yes, be patient with people that you DON'T like.  Love is KIND- that means being NICE to people... (just cussed again).  Love does not ENVY... Wanting what others have, and willing to do what is necessary to get it, or make them feel some kind of way because you don't have what they have.  I've done that before.  Treat certain people bad because they had something I wanted- money, relationships, friends, size, looks, position, family... the list goes on and on... (THANK GOD FOR DELIVERANCE)... I know now that what God has for me, and if I was supposed to have it now, I WOULD!

 Love does not BOAST... love does not work hard to make others feel bad because it has something that others don't have.  Sometimes, thats why folk deal with envy, because others are throwing what they have up in their face.  NOW- let me get this straight, there is a difference in being a testimony to HELP someone, and bragging.  Bragging is to make the person feel bad for not being where you are.  Because those things define the person bragging.  Thats honestly what its about...  Some testify of what God is doing to ENCOURAGE others that God can do it for them too... BIG difference... BIG.

Love is not PROUD...  We all know what pride is - it is that thing that makes you not listen to reason because you feel that your way is better... you know more, more experienced, higher position, or are just self- righteous...  You know pride- that thing that comes before destruction.  Because it speaks in a small voice, and tells us that what we think is better than what God says... You know pride- that thing that got Satan kicked out of heaven... we say, "oh, thats a bit extreme"- but don't forget- "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble" James 4:6... feel like you just can't get a leg up?  Check your pride level...  Feel like you just can't partner with God and it work?  Check your pride level.  Do alot of people tell you that you don't listen?  You probably don't know it cause you never listen to them... LOL

Love is not SELF-SEEKING - selfish, my way, i'm not happy if its not my way, I want what I want NOW, no matter what, who it affects, or what happens... I don't care- I want it, because I want it.  Everything has to revolve around you, or you pitch a fit...  Yeah, you know who you are...

Love is NOT EASILY ANGERED... Whew... people gotta walk on egg shells around you cause you will get mad?  Thats not love- people are afraid of your reaction when they speak their mind, or say what they need, and you get livid?  Thats not love.  Thats an ANGER problem, and it needs to be dealt with...

Love...  wait for it.... KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONG....

Yeah... it doesn't hold it... Thats not love... Goes back to the past two blogs about forgiveness...  A Heart That Forgives , and A Heart That Forgives Part 2... Click the link to read those...


Love does not DELIGHT IN EVIL... but REJOICES IN THE TRUTH....  If you get happy when bad stuff happens to others - you feel they deserve it, so on so forth - or when you gotta tell what happened to so in so, and you get a little buzz off of it... Check your love walk... Thats not love... not at all...

Love always PROTECTS, HOPES, TRUST, PERSEVERES,  - thats self explanatory... we are to protect each other, not throw each other under the bus... hope the best and hope the God in others will override all else.. and push through it... push through it... push through it...



LOVE NEVER FAILS.... really - love NEVER lets you down...  no other way to say it... not if its true love...



Love is pure, not tainted - so lets remember that God does all of these things for us.  He loved us so much that he allowed his son to be tortured and mistreated, rejected, despised, humiliated and murdered.


FOR US...


Thats love...


Happy Valentines Day

The Hatred of Love {{Part one}}

There was a time in my life when I felt like love had eluded me.  That it would always be surface, superficial, left to a hello, a good bye - a shallow conversation with someone that I go to church with - too many heart breaks... and then everything changed...


God has given me a tremendous responsibility this year.  One that I didn't think I would be able to handle.  One that I never thought I could see to the end...  He told me to "raise" someone and love them like He loves them.  This is something that the Lord has led me to do in the past, in different capacities.  I was one that always had a young lady to mentor.  The problem that normally separated or stopped the process was a man... Yeah - a man, the devil sent someone who would pull them off, and I would become their enemy. 


 It doesn't take all of that - I was jealous, I didn't get what their new relationship was like.  And honestly, none of them ever told me I was right - but after the dust settled, they gave up the goods, got their heart broken, mistreated and abused - and the man walked away, they knew the truth - and some are still struggling with their relationship with God...  But if only they would have stayed...  ((i wonder))...


Now, there are many definitions for the word RAISE.  Actually - definitions 1 - 18 all fit what my assignment was this year.   It caused me to not have as close of relationships with those that meant the most to me, because I was on assignment.  It meant some things had to be sacrificed that meant alot to me... because I was on assignment.  It meant being misunderstood... because I was on assignment... it meant being hated by some (yes it was that deep, and talked about- by people who weren't raising ANYBODY)... #imjustsayin


on the other hand...


It also meant experiencing prayer like never before, breakthrough like never before, and the presence of God - like - NEVER before.  Because my life became one long 8 month prayer meeting... LOL - I know that every day was spent in prayer until it was time for bed.  smh - I'm looking back and just laughing now, at how AWESOME God was... And how I needed Him to do the impossible- and He did it.  EVERY time... 




What an awesome opportunity - to love someone who felt unloved, unloveable, not able to trust, not even themselves, broken, battered, bruised, mishandled - rejected...  WHAT A PRIZE THE LORD HAD GIVEN ME!  I had to think, who am I that God would give me such a tremendous assignment.  So many nights of praying... So many nights of tears... So many nights of bible study, and learning the word --- aaaaall in the middle of my floor... LOL - God is awesome...




**i'm going somewhere, just hold on to your bootstraps**


Its a shame though - I was able to see something and love it, when others saw what I saw, and despised it...  Why?  All because they were afraid of her POTENTIAL...


You see, Joseph had tremendous favor on his life, and pastors preach, "from the pit - to the palace"...  But i'm going to take it a little slower and try to bring another aspect today.  Many of us know at least ONE Joseph.  ((Or are Joseph)) - You know the one person in your family, or your friend group that kind of stands out --- you know the hand of God is on their life, and they aren't really ready for it - but yet- He won't take His hand off of them?? LOL - They walk around NOT KNOWING - they are FLASHING their coat of many colors that their Father God gave them?


There goes that dreamer again.... ***thats what his brothers said***


And thats what those darn Joseph's do.  They walk around - flashing their gifts, outshining everyone else - (by accident) - doing what others do  BETTER - (not on purpose) - and always finishing at the top - (even though they weren't competing) - We know those Joseph's...   And the truth is -- the brothers hadn't seen ANYTHING from Joseph's dream manifest - all they saw was Joseph's




POTENTIAL... ((capability of being or becoming)) - 


*push pause - if you don't know the story or need a refresher - click here*




*push play*


     Either you are Joseph, Joseph's brothers, or Joseph's Father... Who are you??


*First- I'm going to talk to Joseph...


You see Joseph, this may sound like a dumb statement, but - don't take it personally.  Yes, you are hated by many.  You feel as if no one likes you.  They will do anything to... "sell you for 30 pieces, like Judas did Jesus" {line from soteria's poem}... or Put you in a pit - slay a goat - and sprinkle goats blood all over your favor... oh wait - excuse me... your coat.  The truth is - Joseph wasn't sold for even 30 pieces of silver.. He was sold for 20.


Joseph.... DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY...  You see, you were BORN with the Favor of God on your life.  You can't help it - you didn't ask for it - you were born with it... and everyone that encounters you KNOWS it.  Your potential YELLS at them every time you walk into a room.  They are reminded of what you have that they don't....  and they want it - will do ANYTHING to have your spot.


*push pause* the thing is this - we all have something that someone else doesn't have - if you would just tap in to what it is you DO have, then you won't have blood on your hands from keep trying to kill all the Joseph's you meet because you think they can do stuff better*


your victory needs to be total mastery of SELF.  not how many people you prove you are better than - AT ANY COST... smh - lets grow up people...




*push play*


Joseph.  Every where you go, you will prosper... this is why the enemy sends PEOPLE to purposely keep you in the pit.  What is a pit?  It's a hole in the ground.  The thing is about a pit - the on-lookers can't see it.  You may be in a pit - thrown in by the "brothers" so that the on-lookers can't see you - just so they can see them [the brothers].. but don't worry - its only for a moment...



buuuut it may get worse before it gets better... :/


Slavery came next - SOLD.  to Ishmaelites... WTW? MUST I go into who the Ishmaelites were??  They were the descendants of Ishmael... Who was Ishmael???  He was Abraham's son!  
The Father of Faith! 


 The Friend of God!  


Yet... Ishmael was the spawn of doubt.  Ishmael was born when Abraham used his eyes (physical) to receive the Word from the Lord, and not his eyes (spiritual).  Because of of that one moment of doubt - there is a war in Iraq that never seems to end.  So many lives lost... THIS YEAR...  See - doubt can spread through generations too.. {{make sure your walking in faith - no ishmaels please...}}


I digress...




SOLD...  betrayed.... by those that were supposed, designed and established to LOVE him. (( To many definitions to list - just click the link)).  

Yeah Joseph, I can hear you now... "All because of a coat?  You are selling me because of a coat?  I'm sorry our dad made me a coat and didn't make you one, I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO MAKE IT! Why are you blaming me for something that I didn't do?  Why are you doing this to me!  Don't take me away from my father!  Don't take me away from my mother!  I have friends - I will never see them again - PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME!!!!  PLEASE!!!  YOU ARE MY BROTHERS!! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ME!! Followed by gut wrenching sobbing and blood curdling screaming...  I'm sure he fought back as hard as he could, but they over powered him...

 ** oh wait... you thought Joseph went quietly?  You don't think he tried to plead his case or fight back?... OOh the saints and their bible stories... Come on - this was real life...  GET REAL.**

SOLD...

((PART 2 TOMORROW))