Show Them~ Hogan Stevens

As Christians in today's world, there are going to be a lot of things that we do not particularly agree with. There are going to be people that we do not agree with, especially. And a lot of times, our thoughts and beliefs as Christians are going to be scorned...and some people may even hate us because of it.

 

We really do live in a great country, but though the 1st Amendment gives us the right to speak and believe whatever we want, Christian ideals sometimes seem to be the most hated and critized. Even though everyone is encouraged to speak what they feel without any consequences, whenever we try to let others know our thoughts on things we get shut out and judged.

 

But that's okay, right? It's best not to let the oppression of this sin-filled world discourage us. There are going to be many instances when you as an individual Christian are accused of being self-righteous and wrong because of your beliefs. That's just a proven fact. But are we to judge others because they believe differently than we do? No!

 

We should be accepting, loving. It isn't our right to judge what others think, even if what they are thinking is wrong according to God's Word. Only God has that right. Only He has the power to justly judge and govern His people. If someone gets angry with you because you voice your belief in Christ or anything from His Word, don't grow just as angry with them for their own beliefs.

　

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Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

 

Instead, show them the love of Jesus. Show them that Christians aren't all judgmental and condemning of the world. Even if we don't agree with what the world holds as right today, we shouldn't go around condemning those who choose to follow the way of this world. We should show them love.

　

"

Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

 

By showing them love and kindness, you take away their reason for contempt. And maybe, with Christ's love, you'll ignite a curiosity within them, a small spark that might make them soften their hearts toward Christians--and most important of all, toward the Lord.

Thoughts From an Old Romantic~ Zachary Tingle

An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life. – Prov 31:10-12

            “Papa, when will my Prince come and marry me?” Grace’s innocent eyes queried her daddy’s. Without waiting for the response she continued, “I think he will be big and handsome and he will take me to his castle, don’t you?” Her eyes still sparkled with the anticipation of being swept off her feet and carried off to live happily ever after.

            Laugh lines creased her daddy’s eyes as smiled at his six-year-old daughter’s questions. They had just finished watching Sleeping Beauty and Grace’s imagination soared with the possibilities of who her prince would be.

            “Sweetheart,” he began as he pulled Grace into his lap, “do you remember who your Mama and I told you was the King?”

            Grace nodded her face shifting to the deep gravity only attainable by a child, “Yes sir, God is the King.” Her face morphed to an expression of joy and pride. “But I am His princess.” She finished with a curt nod to reassure any doubt that might have been entertained.

            A light chuckle accompanied the smile that softened her daddy’s face. “That’s right Sweetie, you are God’s little princess. Do you know what being God’s princess means?”

            A small frown creased the skin between Grace’s eyes as she mentally wrestled with the enigma. Finally, after a few seconds of thought her face cleared, “It means I have to marry a prince.” She stated matter-of-factly. “And,” she continued, “you are my knight who has to protect me from bad guys until the prince gets here.”

            This time her daddy’s laugh was full and ringing. Grace didn’t know what was funny but decided she like hearing her daddy laughing and joined him with her small giggle and hugged his broad chest with her small arms. Still chuckling her daddy nodded, “You are exactly right Sweetheart, just don’t forget that.”

            Grace hugged her daddy even tighter, “You’re always gonna be my knight, even after my prince comes for me.”

            Years passed and Grace gradually became more cynical. She no longer believed that a prince would walk into her ever-so-average life and sweep her off her feet, though she still wished for it so badly it hurt sometimes. As she grew she blossomed into beautiful young woman of 16 when the first of many attempts to steal her heart began.

            His name was Chris and he was nothing like the chivalrous prince she had envisioned as a child, but he was cute and popular and he told her how pretty he thought she was on a daily basis. Grace had heard that he wasn’t a good guy, but he was the only one who paid her any attention and she reveled in his compliments (though a few made her blush and tell him not to be inappropriate). When Chris was around she found it difficult to focus on her tasks, always wondering what his astute mind thought of her at the moment. As time went on Grace began to subtly shift the way she dressed and did her hair. She did not necessarily change on purpose, but thoughts of what Chris would think cluttered her mind as she readied herself for school. Grace knew her daddy wouldn’t approve of Chris, but she loved hearing that she was beautiful and that Chris wanted her around. Gone were the days of regarding her daddy as her knight-protector. She lost track of the promise she made to him nearly ten years before in the euphoria of being pursued and wanted. She forgot that she was supposed to be waiting for a prince. She forgot who the King is.

            This story could end in a myriad of different colors. It could end in the soft ivories and warm rose hues of happiness and contentment. But, considering the kind of man Chris is, the story will most likely end in blazing reds of anger, the black of depression, and the grays of indifference to all things romantic. The yellows of cynicism and the greens of jealousy (for the happiness others girls seem to posses) will most likely follow.

            Much of the pain of this encounter could have been averted had Grace remembered a couple of things. The first and most important thing Grace forgot was how deeply the King loves her (John 3:16). In the midst of fleeting admiration from Chris, Grace forgot how much more she is admired the King. The second thing Grace forgot is that she was to be waiting for a prince who would be her husband. Proverbs 31:12 says that an excellent wife will do her husband good all of the days of her life. That is a pretty big statement, it doesn’t say that she will do him good from the day that she meets or marries him. It says all of the days of her life. That means she will be striving to bless her husband by her actions even before they meet.

            I can confidently speak for myself and my fellow princes in Christ. There is nothing more beautiful or attractive than a woman who is secure in how the Lord perceives her and has tried to bless her future husband with her day-to-day actions and decisions. Prov. 31:10 says that her worth is above jewels (which was the most valuable form currency in that day), Lemuel is saying that a woman who fits this bill is more valuable than the most valuable object available at the time. This is the list paraphrased:

-          She delights in working or creating with her hands

-          She knows where to find food when the budget is tight

-          She is up early to make sure everyone is fed and cared for

-          She is business savvy  and knows how to reuse money for gain

-          Her body is strong and fit

-          The supplies of her household never run low

-          She knows how to create (especially were items of the home are concerned)

-          When there are leftovers she is generous to those who are needy

-          She has provided her family with warm clothing for winter

-          She dresses well and provides good clothing for her husband (and he is respected)

-          She carries herself with strength and dignity

-          She is wise and teaches with gentleness

-          She is not idle

This list is pretty crazy, it is not one of those things to try and tackle in one day, or even in one year. This is the list of what a woman will become if she actively seeks to do her husband good all of the days of her life. One of the final lines is the keystone to all of this. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” (v. 30). Grace fell into the trap of trying to appear charming and beautiful and did not fear the Lord. I speak from personal experience that a woman who fears that Lord is radiantly beautiful and almost irresistibly charming.

            As Valentine’s Day approaches and we hear and see the elements of romance around, refocus of the King. He has plans to make you prosper, plans that will not harm you (Jer 29:11). The King’s love is so much more complete and consistent than any love a man can give. We (men) are sinful and fallible, but the King is consistent and perfect in His affection for you. Whether the Lord has blessed you with a significant other or not, remember who Love is and to whom our first love is due.

Happy Valentines & God Bless,

Zach

P.S. Something to consider: God has given each of your dads to you as protectors and guardians, it will bless both you and him to give him a place in the season of dating or courtship. For those of you who don’t have a dad who follows the Lord, still invite him in (it might be a cool opportunity to share Christ) but also seek Godly male council (preferably a pastor or maybe a best friend’s dad – with her permission of course) on the men in whom you are interested. 

Did you know that Zachary has skied off of a roof?!

A Letter~ by Rachel Melillo

I still have every single card, letter, and invitation sent to me during my life. They’re special, and I can’t bear to get rid of them. There are three that hold significant value to me—more than the rest. One is a postcard from my sister from New Zealand. Another is a letter from my other sister while she was at college. The third is a card from my grandmother.

 

I also have another collection of letters from a group of people that I’ve never met. They’ve been fashioned together in a book, organized perfectly by my Father. God, my Father, gave me a book of letters, filled with overflowing love. Who am I to ignore them? Letters of love, letters of advice, and letters telling stories of love, courage, faith, and grace.

Reading my love letter from my Creator never gets old. The same words can be taken a million different ways, no matter how many times I read it; I can still take something new from it. When someone I like or respect says something, I’ll often ponder it—some prefer the term ‘meditate’—and think about the many ways that the person could have meant it. My Father in heaven gave me a letter than has so many things hidden underneath—though the cover is appealing and attractive, the meaning behind the lines is even more incredible.

I’ve never ignored a letter written to me. Every time I get something in the mail addressed to me, I get so excited—dancing around my kitchen, squealing with pure joy. Although I’d like to say that I regard my quiet times and Bible reading times in the same manner, I’m going to stay honest and admit that I do not. But when we think about it, the Bible is a bunch of letters written to you. To you. To you. From God—the Creator of the universe.

I’d like to challenge you to mail a letter to someone. Pick up your pen and write out a chapter of the Bible to someone that you care about. The New Testament is a great way to go, since many of those books are letters to the church. Write to your pastor, your best friend, a random person that you don’t know (pick a mailbox and send it there). You’d be surprised at the impact you can make.

2^nd Timothy 1: 6-7

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.”

Brotherly Love~ A Spiritual Article by Heather Young

What is love? Is it a feeling? An emotion? How much you enjoy eating? Or is love something more? Is it an interaction you see happen between two people? How self-conscious you feel in front of that certain someone? Or is love something even more? Doesn’t love mean something more than all of these things? The answer is yes. Love means WAY more than what we sometimes think it does. The Bible shows that love is the most important thing you can have! Let’s dive deeper and see what else the Bible has to say about this subject.

“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no greater commandment than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:43-44

Many times in the Bible, there is a statement saying “Love your neighbor,” or something similar to that. If the Bible says that loving your neighbor as yourself is one of the two greatest commandments, don’t you think we ought to? In Matthew 5:43-44 Jesus commands us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who persecute us.  This can be an extremely difficult thing to do. Obeying this command means not only biting your tongue to keep from saying that one thing to a snob in your class, but saying something kind instead.  It also means praying that they will have a change in heart, maybe even giving gifts to them and helping them out. No one is perfect. Everyone slips up at times, but if we try to love our neighbor, it can make a huge difference in someone’s life, even if it doesn’t seem like it.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

            This command may even be easier to follow than the previous one.  I think it is easier to give your life for a friend than to be kind to an enemy, and that it is much easier to love a friend than an enemy.

“We know that we have passed form death to life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love his brother abides in death.  Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:14-16, 18

Just telling someone, “You’re my friend,” or “I love you,” isn’t enough. 1 John 3:18 says that we should love “in deed and in truth.”  Notice how at the beginning of verse 18 it says “My little children.”  This means that the writer must be trying to teach us something.  He is trying to teach us how to love.

“Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, on honor giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:9-10

            True love.  What do you first think of when you hear those words? Probably a relationship between two people who would do anything for one another.  Kind of like a dating relationship.  But what Romans 12:9-10 is talking about is brotherly love. Love between friends. Love that puts the other person first.  A selfless love; even toward your enemies. An honorable love without hypocrisy. True brotherly love.

            In today’s secular culture many teens are involved, or being revolved around, with relationships.  It is so easy to get caught up in worldly desires and lusts.  In these tough times, go to the Bible! Remember these verses, and get caught up in godly love. Brotherly love.

“Let brotherly love continue.” Hebrews 13:1