L-O-V-E

I love talking about love ;-)

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

I am learning that Love is more proactive than it is reactive. Actually, it should not be based on reaction at all. In 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, what is said about love? That's exactly what's said; Love IS. To "IS", excuse my grammar, you must do or already be. The bible does not say love will be or love should be it says love is. The bible also does not say love should not, probably not or would not, it says love never. So to love someone its not about the mere feeling of emotions (although these emotions that can accompany love feel great and God blessed us with them)!

Love is certainly an action and it's should not be only responsive. Love is God! God is gracious and compassionate ( kind, not rude, not self seeking) He is slow to anger ( patient, is not easily angered) and rich in love (always protects, trusts, perserveres, love never fails).

The company you keep!

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God-I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

In this wisdom that Paul shares, not only can we apply this to not hanging around people who will have a negative influence on us. However, it also speaks to the company we keep when no one is even around.

Bill Hybels wrote a book called, "Who you are when no one is looking". It speaks to how many of us are great in putting on these masks when we are around others, but being someone completely different when behind close doors. Why do we do this when God sees all? Isnt His way far more important than others opinions and perceptions of us? (I have to remind myself of this all the time!)

So, bad company could be who's on the other end of that phone or what's on that computer screen that you are looking at. Bad company could be that song that is coming through the radio airwaves or that television show that's playing in the background while your cooking, cleaning, etc.

The enemy comes in any way He can, the bible says He comes to kill, steal and destroy. Keep that joker under your feet and be discerning about the company you keep. Even when no one is around.

I miss you..........

There is someone that I miss so much. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Sometimes, I miss you so much that it hurts. At other times, I miss you and become excited about seeing your smiling face. Why does God make us wait so long for some things? I'm not just talking about for a little while; I mean REALLY wait. When it seems it has been to long. No matter what it looks like, I'm holding on to the promise of our Father. I know full well that He is faithful. I thought for sure I would have seen you by now, heck I may have and not even known it.
I asked Him to tell you how much I miss you today and everyday. I trust that He delivered the message. I guess it's normal to miss someone you love when they are not right by your side. I smile sometimes and even laugh, just from the thought of you. I'm praying for you and that makes me feel closer to you. Awaiting that blessed day, when I will see you!

Your gifts make room for you... Part 2 of how have I put my singleness to work for Christ.

I marvel at the goodness of God! If we ask Him to order our steps, He will. It is amazing to me, that if we take a small step of faith, what He will do in our lives.

In 2008, I took a step of faith not knowing what was ahead of me. I started the ministry God laid on my heart; Gift of Grace School of Etiquette. I remember it so clear like it was yesterday, going to the office of taxation and assessment and opening this school by licensing it. For years, I said that I wanted to open up a school and teach Etiquette to youth. I had no idea what God had in store for me in the upcoming months and I still don't know everything for the upcoming years. He gives me piece by piece, because I believe if He were to show me all of it, I would probably be somewhat intimidated.

Similar with the ministry of dance. I must admit, it is a bit awkward with a room full of people just looking at me. However, I always had a heart to dance. When I gave my life to Christ, I had a desire to do it for Him. I remember taking that first step of faith, although nervous, to minister through dance at a women's shelter. God surrounded me by encouraging women and men of God to encourage me in pursuing my desires/dreams, because they were indeed His purpose for my life.

Through these acts of faith, God has and continues to open doors that amaze me! I am seeing Proverbs 18:16 manifest right before my eyes and it's only the beginning!

"A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great."

In this challenging, but blessed season of singleness, God has taught me what my gifts are. So now, that when my future husband and I come together; I will not only know what my purpose is, but I am walking in it. He (my future husband) is in my purpose!

My next post will be on, "He is in your purpose".

God Bless you. I love you, but Jesus loves you so much more!!

I want my rewards from the Lord!

The enemy has always tried to distract me by looking at what others have been blessed with. He thinks he is so slick; let me tell you I can't stand the devil!!

Anyway, what I love about the Lord so much is that through every storm, every trial; if we pay attention there is a lesson in it that is so much bigger than the storm. One of my dearest sisters in Christ and I often say to each other; "I don't want what God has for you, I want what He has for me". What this simply means is that it's a waste of time looking jealously at what God has blessed with others, since God has promised He himself has good plans for you and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!

Today, I was thinking about in Matthew when Jesus was teaching about prayer:

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." Matthew 6:5

Jesus made it clear that although the hypocrites/pharisees were praying to be heard by their many words and babbling on; they received their reward in full. The reward they received was the one they gave themselves, by thinking so high of themselves and wanting to be heard, they were indeed heard and I'm sure many that heard them praised them for their eloquent prayers. This was their reward.

Now, I don't know about you, but I desire my rewards from the Lord; I pray that you do to! Yes it does feel great when others celebrate our success, encourage us, and share with us how they have seen the Lord working in and through us. However, we have to be careful to not steal the Lord's glory or to look at what others have and covet it. I think that this is nothing but a trick from that ole' devil, to once again distract us from what really matters. We are here on this earth but for a moment compared to eternity. Let's receive the Lords reward and not this world.

I'm convinced that if God were to show us from the jump, all that He wants to do through us and how He will bless us, not only would we be overwhelmed but we may not even be able to conceive it all! That's how amazing God is! He will reward those, who diligently seek Him.

The greatest reward ANY of us could ever receive is Jesus Christ, for He laid down His life for our sins, so that if we believe in him and repent of our sins; we could have eternal life. My brother, my sister, I pray that you have received this great reward. If you have not, now is a greater time than ever.

God bless you!

I love you, but Jesus loves you so much more!!