Friday, February 17, 2017

No Greater Love

February- The Love of God, the Love of Christ

Cecelia Lester


“Greater love has no one than this that he lay his life down for his friend.” John 15:13 (NIV)

            We talk about love this time of year. Husbands profess their love for their wives by purchasing flowers, and candy. Some young men, in order to impress their girlfriends, do what they can to show their feelings on Valentine’s Day. In the late 1970’s, I purchased some of those small heart-shaped boxes of candy. My son and I gave them people who seemed to be by themselves.
One I purchased went to my Hubby’s sister. She had gone through a divorce and I knew she was one of those who would be alone.

            A few weeks later, she told Hubby what we had done. What he related to me was; she told him, “I had never gotten Valentine candy before.”

            When we study Jesus ’giving his life for us, anything we do to show our love for another pales by comparison.


            We should continue to show others Jesus’ love as we are able. Small, yet sincere, ways are appropriate. When I was in the nursing home a mother and daughter with limited means decorated place mats and gave one each to the people they visited. I was touched; I’m sure the others were also. What I am trying to say is it doesn’t take big things to express the love of Jesus to another person.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Love Your Neighbor

February- The Love of God, the Love of Christ, Christian Love

Cecelia Lester


“And the second is like it; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:39-40 (NIV) 

            “The Pharisees classified all 600 laws; they tried to distinguish the more important ones from the less important ones. So one of them, ‘an expert in the law, asked Jesus to identify the most important law.”(1)

            In our world today, we have times when we believe something is not important. The importance of a circumstance can vary from time to time as we age. What is uppermost in the mind of a teenager is to be with their friends or going to the sports event that is currently in season. A young girl who believes she is in love thinks it’s more important to be with her beau than with her family.

            Jesus tells us that we are to love our neighbor as much as we do ourselves. In these times, we might not even know our neighbors. Or we may know their names and maybe their occupation but not much more.

            In our fast-paced world, we forget the importance of taking the time to talk to those living around us. A friend got excited about having new neighbors on her block. This was a woman who had, as a teen, been involved in our old church. The new neighbor’s son caused issues in the area. I believe my friend prays for this new neighbor in spite of the issues caused by the son.

            As I typed the end of the preceding paragraph, I felt conviction come over me because I have not done the same in similar instances in the past. However, I can start this practice today.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. On Monday, Hubby went out to do some errands and came back with this bouquet of roses and two bags of Lindors White Chocolate Truffles for me. I was excited.




1.         Life Application Bible Tyndale House/ Zondervan Publishing Wheaton, Illinois/ Grand Rapids Michigan. © 1991 page 1700  

Monday, February 13, 2017

Love the Lord Whole Heartedly

February- Love of God, Love for God

Cecelia Lester 


“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deut. 6:4-5 (NIV)

                These words, spoken by Moses, tell us today that we should approach loving and be serving God with our whole hearts.

                Several years ago, I knew a person who usually responded that she would do something although she began with the words, “My heart isn’t in it.” She worked in the church and was loved by everyone who took the time to know her. Please don’t misunderstand, she worked very hard at what she did for God.
               
                There are some people whom others consider to be “Prayer Warriors”, they spend quantity time in conversation with our Lord. These are people who ask those burdened by problems, “Have you prayed about it?” or “Can we pray right now?” They make great efforts to keep their souls aligned with Jesus. One whom I considered a ‘’prayer warrior” did not care for the term.

                I know followers of Christ who spent all their available energy working for Him even when they worked in the world. I am speaking of the laity who take on offices and positions in their churches in addition to their gainful employment.
I know God has a place in heaven for each of them. These workers for the Lord were wonderful people who were kind to all they met and loved people. It has been a blessing to have known these people. They showed Christ’s love to me and to all they met.


                Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I wanted to take something to the people we see on visitation. The picture at the top shows the small stuffed animals we took to four women and one man today. They all loved them.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...