Church of Love

Oh dear, it's been almost a month! and i'm on vacation!!! T_T
a mixture of business and nothing to say i guess (but on the bright side, i've been doing the devo's thing fairly regularly these past couple of weeks ^_^)

Right now i kind of feel like God is revealing and telling me all these different things but i don't really know what to take from it just yet, like what he wants to use it all for. I realized that one of my biggest frustrations with the Church (meaning the body of Christ) is the lack of kindness seen- like if you ever just read the opening greetings or final greetings and, a lot of times, the in between's of Paul's letters to Churches, the early church did A LOT to help out their community, and their members. They cared for the poor/unemployed, they took care of the elders who did not have someone to take care of them, made clothes and fed the unfortunate- why don't we do that? why do we just sit on our butts and totally miss that part of scripture. I mean at one point Paul had to tell a church to only help widows who had no family instead of everyone. One of the major works of the church was taking care of their community- not just preaching at them. I think today the church has found itself in a position where it focuses too much on the individual's responsibility and not the group's responsibility. It's always how can You feel God more, You need to pray for people, You should show God's love to others, You, you, you, me, me, me, I, I, I- What about Us?

With that first revelation (the fact that i am very bothered about this topic) has lead me to this new possible vision for my life. I want to see this happen to just one church, see if it can be done with the state of the God's people today- ESPECIALLY in this country- I want to see just one Church able to fulfill the kindness factor in the God equation (pft that was so corny...). And i think that in order to make it legit, it has to start at the very beginning, it needs to be part of that Church's core values, it has to be hammered in from the very beginning not 'worked' in later on.
And i want to be there, i want to see it happen from the beginning and be apart of that ministry in that new church. I want to see God's love pour out of that building so much that it truly becomes a City on a hill (well in this case a Church on a hill) and i think because of that, because we're acting out God's love instead of just talking about it, we will see a revival in whatever town or city we're in. We'll see a plethora of people giving their life to Christ. We don't need, and should never tone down scripture, but that's one major part of God's command for the church that's definitely looked over.

but again, now that i have that, what do i do with it? i have no idea what i'm suppose to do in order to get to that end point- ugh, this always happens to me too. Just the other day actually, i was in church yesterday and the pastor was talking about taking the responsibilities that God has given us and putting it to work (the story of the Talents Matt. 25:14-30). But i don't know what responsibilities He has given me to invest. maybe another lesson in active waiting? *sigh*

ok, devos time- verses that popped out for me this past almost-month :P

21/5/09
^"12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12-14

^"18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Colossians 3:18-21
~man and woman are equal under God, this passage gives the relationship between husband and wife room for change. What's important is the principle of the matter: a wife respects her husband for his sake and a husband respects his wife with love for her sake. Think about it, it does nothing for the family to see you mom always cutting down your father. All you would want to say is man up.

27/5/09
"Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful,"
Colossians 4:2

"Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most out of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,"
Colossians 4:5&6
~this one hit me hard

28/5/09
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands just as we told you, so that your daily life my win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody,"
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

29/5/09
"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are Idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

1/6/09
"for even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'if a man will not work he will not eat.'"
2 Thessalonians 3:10
~Jesus does not support laziness

"¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Timothy 1:15-17
~Paul speaking about himself

2/6/09
"This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the savior of ALL men, and especially of those who believe."
~if God only chose the few to save, why does Paul say that he's the savior of all men? i guess he didn't get the predestination memo...

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set on example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:16

"Watch you life and doctrine closely. persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourselves and your hearers"
1 Timothy 4:16

3/6/09
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
1 Timothy 6:17

4/6/09
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also"
~I've been wondering if maybe it's possible to inherit the same kind of faith that you had in you family. It's no that important but i was curious about it : )

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God."
2 Timothy 1: 8
~Paul speaking again

"that is why I am suffering as I am, yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom i have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day,"
2 Timothy 1:12

" ¹¹Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
¹²if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
¹³if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself."
2 Timothy 2:11-13
~i think what is important here is the difference between disowning and being faithless. It is possible to lose your salvation but that's only if you decide to disown Jesus as your savior. But it is also more than possible to fall back in your faith and be in God's permissible will as well. As it says in Hebrews 6:4-6, it is impossible for a believer who has felt, tasted, and seen God and fallen away to be brought back. It's like Crucifying Jesus all over again.

"avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly,"
2 Timothy 2:16

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels."
2 Timothy 2:23
~how many times do you see a christian argue and argue over theology? yea...

6/6/09
"¹But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ²People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
~sound a lot like today

"In fact, everyone who want to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2 Timothy 3:12

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped from every good work,"
2 Timothy 3:16-17
~don't get me wrong, sometimes you have to take into consideration the time period and culture but all scripture is influenced by God, that means there is always a principle at work with it. example, the scripture about women having to cover their heads and not yelling out in Church is basically getting at women of the church should be seen with respect and modest (not necessarily Mormon modest, but you get it)

8/6/09
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction."
2 Timothy 4:2

"⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
2 Timothy 4:6-8
~ahahah! I LOVE this scripture. This is Paul speaking as he sees the end of his life approaching. I want to be able to say this on my own death bed *goal one* ; )

10/6/09
"¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"
Titus 2:11-12

" ³At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."
Titus 3:3-8
~i know, it's a big one, but something to stress (as it says)

and there's today (which hasn't happened yet :P) so i'll end on a worship song by Hillsong- Your Name High






Peace Be with You.