Deuteronomy 1:6-7 "When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, 'You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River.
When I think about the times I have entertained the thought of giving in to my many temptations, I rejoice in tears of appreciation that my Lord Jesus didn't quit on me.
He stuck with His cross until it was finished!
I vow to trust Him, deny myself, and stick with mine until I am finished.
If we only learn to listen, instead of just hearing what people say through the filter of our "Stinkin Thinkin"
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
As children of God, it is our nature to love.
It was God's love that changed us, and it is that same love, working through us, that will change the lives of others.
Love is one of the fruit of the Spirit. It must be increased in quantity, and in quality.
Love is the core, and the power behind our character.
Love is not a feeling!
It is the act of selflessness; the giving away of one's self-interest for the sake of another.
Love does not require the support of our emotions, but our emotions are often supported by our love.
There are levels of selflessness. The more intense the love, the more of the "self" is sacrificed.
The giving of ourselves must always be done tactically. Love must be applied at the right time, the right place, and at the appropriate level.
We have the mind of Christ to help us to always evaluate our feelings, thoughts and motives, to make sure that our love is genuine, and not just another surge of gushy sentiment.
We must ask the question, "Do these thoughts or feelings fit into the plan of God? What about my motives? Or is this another underhanded attempt to fulfill my own private agenda?"
When we demonstrate love inspired by the Spirit, we confirm the influence of the resurrected Christ in our lives.
Philippians 1:9-10
Jesus, I trust you with these feelings, that for whatever reason, were triggered by what people said or did to me.
I will guard my peace!
I will train my thoughts not to betray my faith in the promises you have made to me.
I will guard my peace!
When everyone, and everyrhing around me will eventually fail and fall away, You and your promises are all that will forever remain.
Isaiah 26:3
