Love 24/7/365 (366 during leap year)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We all know that the month of February is the month for love. However, that is a worldly mindset. We are not called to share our love just for one month out of the year; it isn’t even a full month only 28 days (29 during leap year). We are to love our self & others year around, 365 days (366 during leap year)

Love doesn’t come easy, why I’m not sure. There are days I find it much easier to love myself and to love others. I have been in an intense bible study for about a month now that is making me look deeply at myself and my relationship with God. There is one thing I keep hearing “You are created in My image”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

I have always known and believed that I’m created in His image. What God has taught me from this one verse is that when I say I’m ugly, not smart enough, or not capable in the same breath I’m saying the same thing about God. When I tell myself these lies I’m telling lies about God. When I tell myself lies I show how much I don’t love myself or others. How can I expect people to love me if I don’t love me; and how can I love others if I don’t love myself.

Love is something we are called to do 24/7/365 (366 during leap year)

God tells me what love looks like,

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 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, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

To be able to show this love to others I must first show it to our self.

Do you love yourself? Imagine how much better you could love others if you first love yourself the way God calls us to do 24/7/365 (366 during leap year)

God Bombs

          Have you ever been doing something and all of a sudden out of nowhere you hear someone tell you to do something? Something that might be out of character for you, something you wouldn’t think of doing or even plan to do, if your best friend challenged you would not to do it. This is different; it overwhelms you to the point you have to stop what you are doing. I call it a God bomb.

          The way I see it I have two choices when this happens – 1.) I can hear God calling & directing me to move and then get up & do what He says to do. or 2.) I can sit back & listen & do nothing at all. To be honest, I only have one choice. I must listen & do what God is calling me to do, even when it takes me out of my comfort zone. God doesn’t care about my comfort zone; my comfort zone is to be His comfort zone. I’m supposed to be following His instructions and call for my life even when it doesn’t make sense or takes me out of my comfort zone. I’m moving forward with this call I’m hearing and I’m going to work hard at not giving excuses or arguing with God about it. In time I will reveal what this call is and all the blessings He is pouring out on me by being obedient.

          What is God asking you to do? What are your excuses or arguments for not following His call on your time & life? I encourage you to move on the call God has for you and by doing so you will be very blessed.

Do not mearly listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
James 1:22-24