Shades of the Same Color

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Marie

When are we going to learn? When will we stop characterizing people by what we perceive as the color of their skin? God never intended this when He created us. We are all simply shades of one color.

There are as many as 250 shades of brown. They encompass all the ways God uses them in nature. The color is perceived as stable, safe, traditional, and conservative (from https://simplicable.com/new/brown-color). Add to that 30 shades of beige, all the combinations of those, and the possibilities are almost endless.

Where am I going with this? I’m tired of all the violence and drama related to the color of our skin. Consider this list of Not All…

NOT ALL whites are racist
NOT ALL blacks are thugs
NOT ALL people are perfect
NOT ALL cops are brutal
NOT ALL Christians are judgemental
NOT ALL gun owners are evil
NOT ALL Middle Eastern people are terrorists

What does God think of all this? Check out these verses.

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritismbut accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-35

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:9

Mandisa and Toby Mac say this so well in We All Bleed The Same.

Here’s an additional thought… Black and white are not colors. Just sayin’ ………….

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone. Hebrews 12:14

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Choose Love

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Marie

How often do we pray, “Father, let (help) me love everyone today,” then walk out of our ‘prayer spot’ and totally forget we’ve even asked?

Then, someone irritates us with their words…

Then, something happens that wasn’t planned…

Then, another person tells us what someone else has said about us…

Then we feel slighted by someone, in some way…

When we are commanded in John 13:34 to love one another like HE loves us there are no ifs, there are no buts, there are no ands. One almost might say there are no options. But there are actually two, right choices and wrong choices. The above ‘thens’ have options. We can choose to respond as HE would with kindness, love, patience, gentleness and, self-control. We can choose to be hateful, gossipy, malicious, or controlling. What choice we make shows others Whose we are.

Let’s make the right choice. Love one another!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Previously posted on 8/4/11.

I Love You But…

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Marie

When God says I love you He is saying just that. Where did we come up with the I don’t like you part? Perhaps, we want to say I don’t like what you’ve said/done but I have to love you because God says so. Hmmmmm I really don’t think the intent of the command to love others has anything to do with a qualification (but I don’t like you).

There are 3 basic commands in the New Testament…Love God and love others! (Matthew 22:35-40) Go and Tell! (Matthew 28:19) Do any of those say BUT I don’t have to like you, your actions, your opinions, your stuff…?

When God says love me that’s exactly what it means. The first 5 commandments of the 10 are about loving God. He says I AM God! You can have no other gods in any form whether spiritual or physical. Honor My Name. Worship me on the Sabbath and rest from all else. How do those equal love? Think about this. When we are with those we love we focus totally on them (no other gods), we honor them (by not misusing His Name), we let nothing get in the way of our relationship with them (He is the I AM), we set aside time to be totally with them (setting aside the Sabbath). That is how we are to love God!

How we are to love others is commanded in the next 6. Honor your parents! Do not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or want what belongs to someone else. This is where the ‘but I don’t like you’ comes into play. We get ourselves into a self-righteous attitude and say I don’t like you because you lie, steal, covet… We have to get over ourselves! Doesn’t God say I AM God and you’re not? Stop separating the two. I love you, period.

Love is wanting what is best for another. It is not wanting what is best when we say, but I don’t like you. When a person hears, I don’t like what you are doing, being, or saying, they immediately equate it to I don’t love you. Oh, dear friends, take these words out of your vocabulary! They are not God-like. If we truly want to become more like Him we cannot allow our human attitudes to have a part in how we love. Let nothing get in the way of simply loving!

Oh, How He Loves Us!

Oh, Heavenly Father, let me simply show love. Keep me constantly aware of Your example. Let me show love in Jesus’ Precious and Holy name. Make it so!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Edited and updated from the original published on 7/9/13

No Options To Love

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Marie

How often do we pray, “Father, let (help) me love everyone today,” then walk out of our ‘prayer spot’ and totally forget we’ve asked?

Then, someone irritates us with their words…

Then, something happens that wasn’t planned…

Then, another person tells us what someone else has said about us…

Then we feel slighted by someone, in some way…

When we are commanded in John 13:34 to love one another like HE loves us there are no ifs, there are no buts. One almost might say there are no options. But there are actually two, right choices and wrong choices. The above ‘thens’ have options. We can choose to respond as HE would with kindness, love, patience, gentleness and self-control. We can choose to be hateful, gossipy, malicious, or controlling. What choice we make shows others Whose we are.

Let’s choose loving one another!!!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Originally published on October 8, 2011

God’s Great Love…

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Marie

I have finally finished the Book of Deuteronomy and am ready to dig in to Joshua. I am reading the Word in the Message and Peterson writes some very interesting introductory thoughts about the book. This one in particular was very compelling, and I quote, “God’s great love and purposes for us are worked out in the messes, storms and sins, blue skies, daily work, and dreams of our common lives, working with us as we are and not as we should be.” (The Message. Eugene H Peterson. NavPress. 2004 pg. 263)

God loves us, without question, and really wants what is best for us. He knows what ‘we should be’ but determines to work with us as we are. His purpose is to make us the best we can be as we mirror His Son, Jesus. He knows we are imperfect, sinners, always. It is not a spur of the moment plan. God is able to see the past, present and future of each of our lives and He wants to be part of every moment. His presence is always there we just don’t always choose to honor it. God’s plan will prosper us and provide for us.

He does nothing without just cause. He knows the right time, the right place, and the reasons for His actions regarding us.

However, He expects us to communicate with Him through prayer. And wants others to be doing the same for us.

God knows and He will share His plan. All we have to do is ask and listen for the response.

Oh, How He Loves Us by David Crowder

Heavenly Father, my prayer today is that You will open our hearts and minds and give us the ability to hear You. Oh, Lord, when we hear You let us respond as You would have us respond. I lift this prayer in the Mighty and Awesome Name of Jesus. Make it so!