An Umbrella Of Love

An Umbrella Of Love “How could you say you love me? You kill my spirit by putting me down every chance you get!” “You are the adult! You should have protected me!” “I want to help her. But I am afraid she will reject me.” It is a basic humane responsibility of parents to protect children. It is a spouse’s vow in marriage to lift up his or her mate. It is our own moral accountability that measures love of our neighbor. Jesus showed that he protected the apostles in God’s name. So then, in the name of Jesus, we must protect our children, save from harm the spirits of our families, and care for the people of the world so that in love we may be one. We cannot change our past transgressions, but today as Jesus’ living apostles we can take steps to do only that which unites us in love. Let us care for one another under one umbrella of love. In doing so, we may know how the love and joy of Jesus can make us complete. John 17:11-19 Jesus said to the disciples, 'And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.'

Groom Your Spirit With Love

Groom Your Spirit With Love “He was appointed our leader by our community. Spending our money on himself was not part of the plan!” “I gave you an abundance of food to last you for 2 weeks. I didn’t give it to you so you could go and have a party and having nothing to sustain you until I came back!” “Don’t you think it is hypocritical to ask for something that you wouldn’t do for your sister 2 days ago!” Abusing a position of importance, being irresponsible, and blatantly self-serving are not traits that exude love. We can never love enough. Make your deeds more compassionate, your words more sensitive, and your attitude more thoughtful. We are all appointed by Jesus to bear good fruit, fruit that will last. Groom your spirit with love. A person who loves receives many blessings from God. John 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

A Taste Of Joy

A Taste Of Joy “My heart was broken over my last relationship. But now I am filled with joy because you have come into my life.” “I know you feel sadness over his death. But one day you will smile again when you speak of him.” “Don’t cry for me. I’ll be back next year after school is out.” Relationships touch our emotions, school, work and caretaking may alter our living circumstances, and death of a loved one may make us feel as though we are dead ourselves. Jesus promised joy after this life. If we can live with that promise of eternity in our spirits we may have a taste of that joy in our everyday lives. Pray to God to open your eyes to adopt Jesus’ teachings. Meditate daily for peace in your life. Ceaselessly forgive others their trespasses. Acknowledge and mourn over your losses as minute as they may seem and seek the help of those who can aid in your healing. See the eyes of Christ in everyone you meet and then act with love and compassion. By the grace of God, you will know by a feeling, a split second, or for a little while, what joy is and what’s to come. That joy is revealed by the grace of the Holy Spirit inside your soul. John 16:16-20 Jesus said to his disciples, "A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." Then some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying to us, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" They said, "What does he mean by this' a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'? Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy."

In The Silence And Stillness Of Your Spirit

In The Silence and Stillness Of Your Spirit “Just do as I say. You are too young to understand now. But one day you will know why I ask what I do.” “I guess I’ll have to repeat myself over and over again. Apparently you just don’t get it!” “I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore! When you are ready to change we’ll talk.” Children cannot understand what an adult can identify with because of a lack of life experiences. Spouses may seem to have blinders on because of their relationships of the past that have trained them in a particular way. Friends may not understand as well as family members the importance and depth of confidentiality and loyalty because they lack the foundation and years of bonding and familiarity with events over a lifetime. But when the day comes, when we grow into maturity, or perhaps suffer a deep loss, then we might know or better understand the spirit of the truth that is always working to reveal itself. The Holy Spirit inside you is a part of God and Jesus; the Holy Trinity. If you are the one who doesn’t get it, go to the place where mediation, prayer and love will speak to your heart. God created you. Therefore, when your hardened heart is softened, you will receive the truth that God revealed to Jesus. When will you allow your proud heart to receive the things that are being declared to you? Stop talking and rebelling. In the silence and stillness of your spirit, you will find peace, wisdom and blessings. John 16:12-15 Jesus said, 'I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.'

Your Best Interest At Heart

Your Best Interest At Heart “It is for your own good that I take the cell phone away. If I don’t do it again, what will you have learned about abusing a privilege.” “I am going to tell you the truth. And the truth will hurt, but I will stand by you, because I love you.” “Why do you keep telling me to believe in God, especially when times are tough? Right now, I don’t believe in anyone!“ We may immediately think little of those who punish us, angered toward another who we think is trying to hurt us, and betrayed by those we believe turned their backs on us. When we as humans fall short of understanding why a parent, spouse, child or friend does what he does to teach, coach and demonstrate spiritual growth, we should turn our focus immediately to our relationship with Jesus and knowledge of His teachings. If we are not foolish, our gut, the spirit of truth, speaks to us with holy precision. Jesus, the Son of God, always has our best interest at the heart of every aspect of our lives. If we choose to hear Him, He speaks with wisdom to our souls. It is to our advantage to meditate, pray and respond honorably and respectfully to the love of our teachers. We may not like what others have to say, but often their lessons, punishments and models are what Jesus put in their hearts for our benefit. John 16:5-11 Jesus said, 'Now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, "Where are you going?" But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.'

Joy Is A Gift

Joy Is A Gift “He’s got too many issues. I just can’t deal with him!” “Why do you always focus on what wrong? Can you see that there are many things in your life that are right?” “You don’t know how I feel. I’m the one who had a heart attack!” Perhaps our personal vendettas, mental scars of the past, worries and pains that are affecting our health keep us from feeling complete and joyful. Oh how the world would change if we forgave trespasses, love others by promoting their gifts rather than their faults, and accepted today for what is after we’ve done what we could to improve it. Today turn your focus on how the love of Jesus gave you the hope of eternal life and then you may discover the joy and completeness of your life as it a gift to you now. John 15:9-11 Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete."

Branches Of The Vine

Branches Of the Vine “We are both aiming for the same thing, just in different ways. While you are held back at the end of the line trying to help those who can’t seem to help themselves, I’ll just push my way to the front.” On the surface it may seem that we all will accomplish or overcome our individual goals, dreams, and hurdles. Yes, we may seem to reach the same finish line, but what we feel in our hearts, spirit and soul does not compare. If we strip away self-serving thoughts and put our focus on that which bears fruit for others, whatever we wish will be done for us if we are the branches of the vine of Jesus. John 15:1-8 ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.