Category: Uncategorized

What is love?

Love is such an essential element in our lives. So much so mankind dedicated a day in February to it for couples. But God loves us 24/7 365 days a year for eternity.

His love is faithful, powerful and healing. It is a restorative love; we can’t earn it, nor do we deserve it, but He freely loves us.

The bible describes distinct kinds of love through the Greek language such as ‘Philia love’ it is the brotherly love ( friendship/brotherly). For your friends, family etc. this type of love is shown in affection, and companionship. It’s the type of love we show our family even when we don’t like something they are doing.

The word ‘Storge love’ is empathy love. This Greek word shows love through compassion and empathy. Although this word is not in the bible Jesus showed this love many times when it said he had compassion on them and healed them or feed them. We can have empathy love for people we do not know or do know. It is still a form of love. The old testament tells us in Isaiah that God feels our infirmities. That is the same as empathy love. When Jesus was moved with compassion, he empathized with the hurting and sick among him, he felt their pain and hurt.  

There is the ‘Eros love’ which is the Greek word for romance love. The valentine day love. This type of love is sexual attraction. It is emotionally and physically based.  

And then there is ‘Agape love’ God’s love. The Greek word agape love is unconditional. The perfect love, no conditions. This is the kind of love that laid down its life for us. Jesus loved us unconditionally before we knew Him, he died for us. The bible says nothing separates us from his love. Yes, you read it right nothing. Most of us at first do not understand that type of love because we live in a world of conditions. But nevertheless, it is God’s love, and he does love us unconditionally.

But that does not mean there are not consequences for sin or disobedience. There are physical and spiritual laws that if we break them there are consequences but just because you endure a consequence does not mean God does not love you. It just means you are reaping from something you sowed.

So, as we approach valentine’s day tell the one you are romantic with Happy Valentines’ day! But remember that love has expressions through actions. Show love towards your fellow man with ‘philia love’ and have ‘storge love’ for those who are hurting but most importantly let God’s agape love flow through you to all.  

Life is Short

I saw this on Facebook and wanted to share with you all.

Holding grudges only hurts you. Forgive and move on. This doesn’t always mean the relationship is restored but it frees you to live again.

Happiness does not come from something or someone it is a byproduct of your well-being.

Allow your heart to heal. Explore new things and give and watch happiness grow. Sow a seed of kindness.

Life truly is to short for grudges.

What is a good relationship?

What does it take to have a good relationship? Whether it is marital, friendship, or family there are some qualities that exist in good relationships.

The first vital quality of a good relationship is honesty. Honesty gives security for any relationship it builds trust. Without honesty trust will be lacking. Without trust there will be no security in the relationship.

The second quality of good relationships is love. Love is a quality not based upon performance but on commitment to the relationship. Commitment is necessary for the relationship to thrive. Commitment is the adhesive in love for relationships.  The bible states in I Corinthians 13:4-8 “What is love it is patient, kind, it is not envious, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth it always protects, it always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

So, does a good relationship mean there is no disagreements? Absolutely not this means that you are willing to work through them. The third quality of a good relationship is forgiveness. Sometimes we say stuff wrongly or hurt the other person with out realizing it. You work through these situations by asking for forgiveness or giving forgiveness.

The fourth quality of a good relationship is significant communication. A good relationship extends beyond the trivial pleasantries and brings out the conversations of feelings, wants and needs. It is so important to the person to listen to their words and understand their meaning.  If you do not talk clearly what you are thinking, feeling and meaning the other individual will be left with their own interpretation of what you are saying. Never stop the discussion without understanding what the person meant.

The fifth quality of a good relationship is faithfulness. Faithfulness is demonstrated in honoring your word. Faithfulness to your word means you do what you said you would do. Faithfulness also means you are loyal. These are qualities that build trust and security in relationships.

All these qualities of honesty, love, commitment, trust, security, significant communication, forgiveness, and faithfulness develop good relationships. I would inspire you to find ways to grow your relationships with these qualities.

Voting is a privilege

In the United States we have a voting privilege. I call it a privilege because some countries do not. Take the opportunity given to you and vote.

A good report my husband Roger is out of the hospital and doing well. Thank you for all the prayers.

We appreciate you all.

What is Compassion for the individual?

What is compassion? “Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.” If you cannot feel the hurt of one how can you be compassionate for many. On a personal level compassion should be offered in the daily opportunities. Do you look to be compassionate with other people? God gives us all the opportunities to be caring in an individual way.  

It is amazing to think about Jesus as well as how he healed the sick and then set the demonic free. As I think about all the things He did while he was living on earth it astonishes me that He genuinely cared about individual needs.

Such as the lady at the well, she needed a heart change, the lady with the issue of blood she needed a miracle. Or the woman who had seven demons cast out and became a follower or the lady who poured oil on his feet and wiped it with her hair, her need was expressing her worship to him and his need was to prepare for his burial.

Peters mother-in-law had a fever he cured her, and she served them. The mother whose last son alive died, He raised him from the dead so that she would not be alone. Sometimes we could get focused on the larger miracles which Jesus did. Though his concern for individuals and his sympathy for them speaks to us as individuals. Jesus also healed and delivered men on an individual basis too. The nobleman’s son healed, a sick man at the pool who could not get up on his own healed and the list goes on…

God heals all aspects of us spirit soul and body. His compassion is limitless. When you have been wounded it may cause emotional, physical or mental difficulties but God wants to express his compassion towards you. God cares about each aspect of your life. There are times we will need inner healing for hurts, traumas and pain that we suppressed, and it is okay to seek help.

God’s compassion is greater than our understanding. You are valuable and have worth. You were created by God and he wants to save, heal and restore you. He sent Jesus to die so that you can call on him today and receive from his compassion and mercy.

Almighty God knows you by your name call on Him and he will answer you.  

Words that bring life or death

Which words produce life, and which produce death? The words that produce life become words of a blessing. But if they produce death, they become word curses.

What is a word curse? It can be anything spoken to you, by you or about you concerning you and your life that you believe, and it is a negative, unloving, unkind or abusive statement. Usually they are spoken by an authority or parental figure and you believe what they said. When you repeat the statements with belief, they become your reality.

God speaks life over us not death. His word is filled with good things that are truths. It is essential to know who you are in Christ so that you can refute the lies of the enemy, yourself, others, or the world. Not everything spoken to us is beneficial to us. We need to recognize what is being spoken so we can refuse to believe any lies, wrong beliefs, or harmful words (word curses) spoken to us, or by us.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 18:7 “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”

Proverbs 18:20 “A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled.”

Numbers Say to them, “As I live says the LORD, just as you have spoken in my hearing so I will do to you.”

Matthew 12: 36-37 “But I say to you that for every idle word man may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37-For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Your words are producing either blessings or curses. We eat of our words! that is powerful thought. So, for a minute think on your words lately and how they made you feel. What type of words are you speaking and thinking?

Remember as a man thinketh so is he. So, your thoughts are producing blessings and curses too. Usually what we think is what is coming out of our mouths. Jesus said out of our hearts our mouths speak. The heart and mind are connected. You cannot separate heart and mind. The mind is part of your soul, the soul is the mind, will and emotions. Your heart desires which is will so you can see how intertwined they are.

To be whole we must be willing to face uncomfortable things. Wholeness is essential to overcoming all obstacles. “Obstacles are things that block one’s way, prevents or hinders progress.”

Word curses block our way because they can be subconscious and undetected, they also can attract demonic interference. (‘Interference means the action of interfering or the process of being interfered with.’)

How do you get free of word curses, negative words spoken by you or to you, or inner vows you have made to live by which are destructive to live by?

First ask God what are the negative words this is identifying them. Second renounce them and refuse them. Replace them with a truth. Ask God for the truth to replace them. Go to the Beauty for Ashes page and follow the prayer.

We used the book ‘God Therapy’ by Timothy Lane M.A. We followed his ‘God Therapy’ steps in ‘breaking word curses and unhealthy beliefs.’

Beauty For Ashes page.