Give Thanks to God

WPF Ladies’ Retreat 2011

Our WPF Ladies’ Retreat for 2011 is coming up in October.  Many of our women are planning on going. The dates are October 20 & 21, 2011 at the Radisson in Branson, MO.

We are looking forward to an amazing experience in the services, along with the exciting fellowship, shopping and banquet with our Sisters in Christ.

Important Information:

You Are All Invited…

On Courage

This article is from “Chicken Soup for the Soul”. It touched my heart and I hope it does yours.

                                                                    Sister Royce Ann Henderson

On Courage

“So you think I’m courageous?” she asked.  “Yes, I do.” “Perhaps I am. But that’s because I’ve had some inspiring teachers.  I’ll tell you about one them.”

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.  Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously

Manifesting the Love of God, Conclusion

III. LOVE IS ETERNAL

We live in a finite world limited by time and space, so it is difficult for us to understand the significance of the eternality of love.  We can best define it as “love without limits.” Since God always has existed and always will exist, so His love always has been and always will be.

A mighty host of believers has gone before us that testifies of the love of God extended in our daily lives.  He provides for our needs, heals our bodies, and guides our footsteps as daily reminders of His love.  The Scriptures

Manifesting the Love of God, Part II

LOVE IS FRATERNAL

The word fraternal means “of, relating to, or involving brothers…of, relating to, or being a fraternity or confederation” (Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary). In other words, through the love of God the church is a brotherhood or sisterhood – a family.  In normal or usual circumstances, a stronger bond of love exists between family members than between fellow humans in general.  As the old German and English phrase states, “Blood is thicker than water.”  This old idiom attempts to convey the idea that family relationships are stronger than any other relationships. What makes that especially true in the church

Manifesting the Love of God

FOCUS THOUGHT:

God is love.  When we have God’s Spirit we have His love.  He wants us to manifest His love in the world.

FOCUS SCRIPTURE:

1 Corinthians 13:13 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

CULTURE CONNECTION:

What is Genuine Love?

Our world has such a warped concept of love these days.  We carelessly throw around the word “love” with such glibness and nonchalance.  Do we even know any longer what real and genuine love is?

For example, in the April 07, 2010, issue of People magazine, in an article titled, “Jennifer Love Hewitt: I’ve Been Cheated on ‘a lot,’” author Tim Nudd wrote, “Jennifer Love Hewitt’s split with Jamie Kennedy reportedly had nothing to do with any infidelity.  But the actress has been down that road in previous relationships.  Asked by Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Tuesday if she’s ever been cheated on, Hewitt replied, “Yes. A lot.”

Another popular figure who made news because of his infidelities is talented golfer, Tiger Woods.

Sadly, these are the kinds of lifestyles that are not only in Hollywood, but also in our backyards. It seems that we as a society have been conditioned to portray the love that we see on TV, magazines and in movies.  We have somehow lost all sense of what is real and genuine love.  It has become a twisted and warped idea that is not love at all.

Out of the swamps of modern culture we still can know and see demonstrated the essence of genuine love because “God is love.”  The kind of love God displays is the highest possible idea of love – agape love.  His love is real, genuine, and lasting.  And when He fills believers with His Spirit, He fills us with the same kind of love so we may exercise genuine love toward others.

CONTEMPLATING THE TOPIC

In our human nature, we can only strive to achieve the level of love manifested by Jesus Christ.  It is contrary to human nature to love those who do not love us, but our Savior loved in spite of rejection, scorn, and abuse.  He forgave while experiencing unimaginable agony on the cross. The believer’s capacity to love others like Christ loves them comes from His indwelling Spirit.  The love of God is the distinguishing characteristic by which others know us as His disciples.  When we manifest His love in our daily lives, others become aware that we are true followers of Jesus Christ.

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

I. LOVE IS INTERNAL

God is the source of true love. In ourselves we cannot generate God’s love, for our carnal tendencies make us prone to selfishness.  Whatever human emotions reside within us, whether good or bad, flow outward like an underground spring that feeds a river.  The works of the flesh seek to exalt oneself, whereas the Spirit of God motivates us to crucify our selfish will and ambitions.  When Jesus Christ is preeminent in our lives, the love of God reigns in our hearts.

Love often originates from an individual’s gratitude for what God has given him. The sinful woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears displayed a heart full of gratitude and love.  Those who receive much forgiveness also love much.  When the Lord saves us from sin, we receive His love for us and in turn act as conduits of that love.  Freely we have received and freely we give to others.  Instead of a brief, shallow feeling rooted in a desire to escape Hell and judgment, our love for God comes out of the depth of our souls.  We love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  (See Mark 12:29-30; Ephesians 1:15)

A person’s adherence to a set of rules and guidelines does not prove his love for God. The Pharisees obeyed rules and laws, but they did not base their obedience in love. Our love for God and our desire to please Him must be the source of motivation for our submission and obedience to His commandments.

See tomorrow’s post on Manifesting the Love of God, part II.

We are Calvary Apostolic Church located in Kennett, Missouri.

*This article is brought to you by our Sunday School Lesson out of Christian Principles in Relationships, Summer 2011.