The Best Expression Of Love Is Time!

The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. The more time you give to something, the more you reveal its importance and value to you. If you want to know a person's priorities, just look at how they use their time.

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you will never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

It is not enough just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. The Bible says, " My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." 1John 3:18. Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E."

The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves. Men, in particular, often do not understand this. Many have said to me, "I don't understand my wife and kids. I provide everything they need. What more could they want?" The answer is they want you! Your eyes, your ears, your time, your attention, your presence, your focus - your time. Nothing can take the place of that.

The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention. Love concentrates so intently on another that you forget yourself at that moment. Attention says, "I value you enough to give you my most precious asset - my time. "Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love. Jesus modeled this: "Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave Himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins." Ephesians 5:2.

You can give without loving, many people do it everyday, but you cannot love without giving. "God so loved the world that He gave...." John 3:16. Love means giving up - yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or time for the benefit of someone else.

Sometimes procrastination is a legitimate response to a trivial task, especially with our lives being so busy today. But because love is what matters most, it should take top priority. The Bible says, "Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. Galatians 6:10. "Use every chance you have for doing good." Ephesians 5:16. "Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." Proverbs 3:27.

Why is now the best time to express love? Because you don't know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to express love, you had better do it now.

Knowing that one day you will stand before God, here are some of the questions you need to consider: How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people? Who do you need to start spending more time with? What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible? What sacrifices do you need to make?

The bottom line is that the best use of life today is love. The best expression of love is time. And the best time to love is now!

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How Do I Forgive My Enemies?

Jesus said in Mathew 5: 43-44, " You have heard that is was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

The first step in forgiveness is to recognize your resentment against an enemy. You must understand who the enemy is and what he has done to hurt you. Then you must consciously say, "I forgive that person for the following wrongs against me." Then repent of you feelings against your enemy and ask God to forgive you, as Jesus said in Luke 11:4.

After that, begin to pray actively for your enemy's good. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies and that doing this will help to fill us with love for them, (Mathew 5:43-48). When you pray for your enemies, asking God to meet their needs and manifest Himself to them, you are overcoming evil with good. Instead of fighting negative thoughts in your mind, you are filling your mind with positive thoughts of God's love for that person. You are now on the side of your enemy; you have a spiritual stake in his well being. If God answers your prayer, which you want Him to do, the person prayed for will be blessed, and you will have a deeper understanding of redemption - the ultimate form of forgiveness, (Mathew 18: 21-35). So if you ask God to bless someone who has wronged you, the result may well be a repentant sinner, and a new brother or sister in the Lord!
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What Is Love?

The Christian understanding is that love comes from God. The love of man and woman (Eros) in Greek—and the unselfish love of others (Agape), are often contrasted as "ascending" and "descending" love, respectively, but are ultimately the same thing.

There are several Greek words for "Love" that are regularly referred to in Christian circles.

* Agape: In the New Testament, is charitable, selfless, altruistic, and unconditional. It is parental love, seen as creating goodness in the world; it is the way God is seen to love humanity, and it is seen as the kind of love that Christians aspire to have for one another.

* Phileo: Also used in the New Testament, Phileo is a human response to something that is found to be delightful. Also known as "Brotherly Love."

* Two other words for love in the Greek language, Eros (sexual love) and Storge (child-to-parent love), were never used in the New Testament.

Christians believe that to Love God with all your heart, mind, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself are the two most important things in life, (the greatest commandments of the Bible, according to Jesus; Mark 12:28–34).

The Apostle Paul glorified love as the most important virtue of all. Describing the essence of love, and the 14 characteristics of it he wrote, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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, and always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:4–7)

• Love suffers long, having patience with imperfect people.
• Love is kind, active in doing good.
• Love does not envy; since it is nonpossessive and noncompetitive, it actually wants other people to get ahead. Hence, it does not parade itself.
• Love has a self-effacing quality; it is not ostentatious.
• Love is not puffed up, treating others arrogantly; it does not behave rudely, but displays good manners and courtesy.
• Love does not seek its own rights and demanding precedence; rather it is unselfish.
• Love is not provoked; it is not irritable or touchy, rough, or hostile, but is graceful under pressure.
• Love thinks no evil; it does not keep an account of wrongs done to it; instead it erases resentments.
• Love does not rejoice in iniquity, finding satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and spreading an evil report; rather, it rejoices in the truth, aggressively advertising the good.
• Love bears all things, defending and holding other people up.
• Love believes the best about others; credits them with good intentions, and is not suspicious.
• Love hopes all things, never giving up on people, but affirming their future.
• Love endures all things, persevering and remaining loyal to the end.

The Apostle John wrote, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:16–18)

• True love is not conditional, it is unconditional.
• It covers a multitude of sin.
• Love is a choice.

John also wrote, "Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7–8)

One must be able to decipher the difference between love and lust. Lust is an overindulgence, but to love and be loved is what is sought for our entire lives. One does fall in love and is loved back, by God. The only one who can love you truly and fully is God, because love with a human only allows for flaws such as “jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and contention.” To love God is “to attain the peace which is yours.”

God is the source of love, which is mirrored in humans and their own loving relationships.

"God is love." All human beings, are created in the image of God, who is love, are able to practice love; to give themselves to God and to others (Agape) and by receiving and experiencing God's love in contemplation, and expectation, (which is a form of Eros). This life of love, is the direction Christians take when they believe that God loves them. Without love, the most magnificent manifestation of gifts and the most heroic self-sacrificing mean nothing.
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Child Rearing - According To The Word Of God!

Everywhere we look, there is an article or book about how to raise children. An author will strongly give one opinion, and another writer will just as strongly give another. Some support old fashioned values, others think we need to loosen up. What are parents supposed to believe? We have the desire to bring our children up well, wanting them to be godly, responsible, productive, and successful adults. We want them to be a joy to us, and not bring us a lifetime of grief. But how do we achieve that? How do we get the wisdom needed for such an awesome responsibility?

Let's look to the Bible as our infallible source of advice. Why not get our guidance from God, who created our children, and knows exactly what they need? Here are a few of the many scriptural guidelines for raising our children.

OUR DUTIES AS PARENTS

1. To love them (Titus 2:4)

2. To bring them to Christ (Matthew 19:13,14)

3. To train them up for God (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4)

4. To instruct them in God's word (Deuteronomy 4:9; 11:19; Isaiah 38:19)

5. To tell them of God's judgments (Joel 1:3)

6. To tell them of the miraculous works of God (Exodus 10:2; Psalms 78:4)

7. To command them to obey God (Deuteronomy 32:46; 1 Chronicles 28:9)

8. To bless them (Genesis 48:15; Hebrews 11:20)

9. To pity them (Psalms 103:13)

10. To provide for them (Job 42:15; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8)

11. To rule them (1 Timothy 3:4,12)

12. To correct them (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 23:13; 29:17; Hebrews 12:7)

13. Not to provoke them (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

14. Pray for them (Lamentations 2:19)

RESULTS OF GODLY PARENTING

1. They will not bring their parents shame. (Proverbs 29:15)

2. They will not depart from Christian teaching when they are older. (Proverbs 22:6)

3. They will have great peace. (Isaiah 54:13)

4. They will bring us joy. (Proverbs 15:20)

5. They will give us peace and delight to our soul. (Proverbs 29:17)

6. They will rise up and call us blessed. (Proverbs 31:28)

7. Keeping God's commands will help prolong their lives, bring them prosperity, and win them favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1,2,4)

Who would not want all these wonderful benefits for their children? Yet, we are only human. How can we accomplish all this? Let's remember these promises.

1. If you lack wisdom, ask God and He will give it to you. (James 1:5)

2. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)

3. Pray! The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

More Scriptures Concerning this.....

Proverbs 3:12
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 10:1
A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Proverbs 13:24
He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes.

Proverbs 15:20
A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 17:2
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 19:18
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Proverbs 19:26
He that wastes his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame, and brings reproach.

Proverbs 19:27
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.

Proverbs 20:11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 20:20
Who ever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14
Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beats him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 23:15-16
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

Proverbs 23:24
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begs a wise child shall have joy of him.

Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.

Proverbs 29:17
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Proverbs 29:21
He that delicately brings up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

In conclusion, we don't have to be confused and unstable in our child rearing. By bringing up our children according to the Bible, we will all enjoy the benefits, both now and eternally!

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Salt Of The Earth & Light Of The World!

The Bible says in Mathew 5: 13, "You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

The metaphor of the word "salt" used here was to describe the character of God's people in being connected with purity, and to indicate their influence for good as they penetrate secular society.

In the old days, a Christian who had been ejected by discipline from the Church was compelled, before he was received back, to lay at the door of the Church and invite people to enter, saying, "Trample upon me who is the salt which has lost its flavor."

Salt has some unique characteristics. Let's take a closer look:

Salt causes thirst...
We make others thirst for the Lord by living His Will.

Salt is a seasoning...
We are to season each other by His Word and our testimonies.

Salt is a preservative...
By doing His Will we save souls because His wish is that none should perish.

Mathew 5: 14 - 16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Christianity was meant to be seen...
We shine as reflected light, (His Light), radiating from the presence of Christ within our hearts.

Visible to all men in the World
Attracting them to God...

We are to be a guide for God to others, In Love, to make the way clear as an example or a warning light which is our duty. Praising good and condemning evil.

The bottom line is that Christian uselessness invites disaster. We must be an example of purity. Our conviction should be brought about by loyalty and living for Christ today. We have a choice to either have a positive or negative effect on others today. It is and always will be our responsibility to live in the Truth, as He has instructed us, bringing glory to Him.

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Grace And Sin!

Psalm 19: 12-14 mentions three kinds of sin - Errors, Hidden Faults, and Willful Sins.

Errors - sins we commit and are not aware of. David said, "Who can discern (one's) errors?" We can commit error-sins for years as a Christian and not be aware of them, unless someone courageously and lovingly points them out.

Hidden Faults - sins we commit that we are aware of, but try to hide, hoping nobody catches on. David prayed often to God, "Forgive my hidden faults."

Willful Sins - Attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions that we know are wrong, and yet we do them anyway. David asked God, "Keep your servant also from willful sins."

But let us note that there is something encouraging here also. Though David knows he is a sinner, he is also still God's servant.

Even willful sin does not exclude us from God's Love.
God's Grace never gives up on us!

"Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." - Romans 5:20

Despite our sin, we are God's servant, not because of what we have done, are doing, or ever will do, but because of whom we believe in...

Christ, and the Finished Work Of The Cross.

Maybe that is why David asked God, "May my sins not rule over me." He knew God's servants should only have one ruler - and it ought not to be willful sin. He knew he was not perfect.

So David prays, as a humble man, "May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight." And to whom does he make that request? " O Lord, My Rock, and My Redeemer."

These inner struggles are what make us alive today. These same struggles were shared by Jacob when he wrestled with God as in Genesis 32:28. Every God-believer is a God-struggler. Struggling with God is not a sign of unbelief or weak faith. It is a sign of an honest relationship, and even strong faith. Those who have no faith, have no need of grace, and no need to struggle with God. But all who have faith, struggle with God and the grace, and unmerited favor which He gives to us because of the imperfections we see in ourselves. Sometimes it is with a great ferocity, and other times it is a lesser intensity. He actually likes us to struggle with Him, because it always brings about change in our lives. Struggling with God shows that we take Him seriously to the Truth that He reveals to us in our lives each day as we journey forward, renewing our minds to what is true of us. Transforming us more and more into His image and likeness for the world to see. God's Grace is always more than enough to help us in our struggles with sin, strengthening us in our faith, showing us that He has everything we need in this life and journey today. Our true freedom and change comes through accepting His Grace, through His Son, Jesus Christ, and all that He has done to allow us to have that relationship again today.

Easter - Resurrection Day!

.....Romans 6: 4 says, "As Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

.....In my line of work I have often had the privilege of meeting those who are at the bottom of their life, feeling lost, abandoned, and helpless, consumed in addiction and other life-controlling issues. And through our ministry's Christian Discipleship Program, I have been blessed and able to see God's miracles everyday as these people have their lives turned completely around and transformed right before my eyes, through the power of God. Like a caterpillar coming out of a cocoon and standing before me as a beautiful butterfly, these people experience liberation from their addictions, leaving behind lifestyles of hatred, and violence, experiencing grace, embracing the faith of a better future, hope, love, joy, peace, and forgiveness, for God, themselves, and others. They have truly become a "new creation" in Christ.

How is this possible?

.....The key to their transformation is the empty tomb on Easter morning. Paul spells out the impact of that empty grave when he writes in Romans 6:4, " We were buried with Christ through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead (This is the power that was unleashed) through the glory of the Father, we too may walk and live a new life." This faith, in choosing to boldly and unswervingly believe what God has said about them, and what He has said has happened to them, frees them to live as never before, for the good of God, and others. This is why the faith of a mustard seed has the ability to move mountains out of our own lives today.

.....Easter is obviously a big deal in the life of Jesus. But it is also a big deal for you and me also. The power of the risen Lord breaks addictions, melts hatred, and gives each of us a sense of purpose to live as resurrection people, experiencing all that God has for us, heaven on earth.

.....The expression "live a new life" literally means "walk a new life." The God we serve loves to take walks. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden according to Genesis 3: 8. He walked with the Old Testament people through the wilderness into the promise land in Exodus 40: 36-38. In Christ, He walked the dusty streets of Palestine, and then walked out of the tomb on Easter morning. Why? So we could see the victory that took place for us, and could personally walk with Him as He led the way into a fresh new life for us to experience all that God has for us as never before.

.....I would only ask the Lord to show you the power of the victory that took place over 2000 years ago, on this Easter Sunday. Upon seeing that, I know that your life will be truly changed forever, experiencing it daily in your life, leading you and guiding you into a life of resurrection, hope and power, unlike anything you have ever experienced before.
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Growing In Grace!

.....Jesus Christ paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. The Cross truly demonstrates God's love. The Bible says: Love conquers all, and also, that Love covers a multitude of sins. God clearly demonstrated His own love for us in the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is no greater act of love than to give your one and only son for the world. There is no F.E.A.R. in Love. Perfect Love drives out F.E.A.R., because fear has to do with punishment. The man who fears is not made perfect in Love, (1 John 4: 18).

.....Today, we are free to grow in Love for Him by the grace, (The Unmerited Favor) He has given us, that we may serve Him with joy, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices. Not presenting ourselves to an enemy whose motives and purposes are suspect at best, but to a Living God, a wise, loving, and powerful Heavenly Father, who's motives and purposes for us are founded in His perfect goodness.

.....The Law could never produce true growth in grace and actually worked against the process. 1 Corinthians 15: 56 says, " The power of sin is the Law." As long as people are kept under the Law, they are kept under the power of sin. Romans 7: 7-8 says, "I would not have known what sin was except through the Law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the Law had not said, Do Not Covet. But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the Commandments, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the Law, sin is dead."

So, is the Law bad?

.....No, because in 1 Timothy 1: 8 it says, " The Law is good if one uses it properly." In it's proper use, God uses it as a mirror to show us the truth about ourselves, so that we will see our need for total dependency upon Jesus Christ. In it's misuse, it produces an "Outward Conformity" with an absence of Faith, Hope and Love. This results in a total lack of Christian maturity.

An example of this is a contrast between:

A City Dog, and A Country Dog.

.....I personally have had one of each, and the Lord revealed this to me through the Spirit while in my personal studies with Him. Have you ever had a dog that you kept in the house, or penned up in the backyard? What happens when there is a momentary crack in the doorway or fence? The dog takes off like a bolt of lightning! Give it a glimpse of freedom and he's gone. You end up chasing him up the street, constantly calling his name. Does he stop? No way! He would actually turn and seem to grin at you, and keeps running. The more you chase him, the faster he runs.

.....On the other hand, have you ever had or seen a country dog? Picture "Old Duke." There are no fences, but only miles of pasture and woods to run in. He can go wherever and do whatever he wants. But where is he? Right smack on the front porch of your house, sleeping, and resting contently. He is happy to hang around the house, waiting for his master to come and play or take him for a walk.

.....People are the same way. They can't stand to be in bondage! They remain in captivity if there are enough strong threats, persuasive deceptions, or peer pressure, but if you give them a crack of freedom in this situation, they are out there like a city dog.

.....This is what Christians do who have been kept penned up by legalism. Without a personal understanding of the Grace and Truth found in Jesus Christ to guide them, they see freedom only as an opportunity to indulge the flesh.

.....Christians are all too quick to condemn people who are so called, "Rebelling Against God," without first looking more closely and asking, "What are they really rebelling against?" Usually, people are actually rebelling against "Legalistic Religion," brought about by man's traditions, that has kept them in bondage, not against God Himself.

.....Do you really think the city dog is running from his master? No, he is running from the fence. He loves his master. He just hates being penned up. These kind of rebels are some of the most excited, dynamic believers, once the errors of legalism have been corrected in there lives.

Let's emphasize what God has added above and beyond the removal of the Law.

.....God's method of releasing us from the Law is by replacing it with His indwelling Life and Spirit. That is why the country dog stays near to the front door. Because he knows and loves his master, His freedom is not freedom from bondage, but freedom to be with the one he loves. In the same way, we grow to know and love Jesus Christ more intimately, and find ourselves experiencing incredible freedom, hardly ever thinking about the Law at all. The issue is not what I can or cannot do. I'm Free to know my Heavenly Father in an unhindered personal relationship. Then, through that relationship, God teaches my mind to think His thoughts. When I am wrong, He uses Grace to remind me who I really am, so that I can return to a dependancy upon Him. He doesn't just lock me back behind the fence. He is faithful even when we are not. Hebrews 13: 5 says, " He will never leave us nor forsake us." We may get deceived sometimes, or feel beaten down, but His Love and Grace continue to draw us to Himself as He continues to fulfill His Promise in Phillipians 1: 6 which says, "He who began a good work in you, will carry it out onto completion until the day of Jesus Christ. John 3: 30 says, "He must increase, and I must decrease." That is a good way to describe what growing in grace is like.

.....Through our trials, tribulations, and personal failures, we come face to face with our own inadequacy, and are forced to turn to Him for His total adequacy. He then lifts us up, and then we see that He still loves, and accepts us, even if He hates what we did. This causes us to be drawn to love Him, and to trust Him more, as we continue our walk through life.

.....In closing, I want you to know that God truly cares about you and me. There is nothing we can give Him, no service we can perform, no self discipline we can apply that He wants more than just us. He wants to reveal Himself, and His Love to us, and wants us to grow to love Him in return. This is how we grow in grace, abiding in the Truth of God's Word, especially the Truth which deals with our total acceptance, forgiveness, righteousness, and life in "The Finished Work Of The Cross." Within the Truth, we have the boldness to approach God, and get to know Him in a personal way. Through, a relationship, not religion.

We must abide in His Grace, in order to grow in His Grace.

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SANCTIFICATION

.....Spiritual development comes through 8 specific callings, a sanctification process. Our "WITNESS" increases as we fully obey each calling, producing a character transformation. My purpose today is to help you become the most effective "Translator" of Spiritual Truth, establishing 8 Christian Virtues. To make you a star witness for God through Christ, an Ambassador, representing Him and His Kingdom with a vital message, able, and available at all times to share it.

Faith - Romans 10:9
.....Repentance of SALVATION: Give the Lord Jesus Christ His rightful place at the center of your life.

Virtue - 1 Peter 2:9
.....Separation from Darkness: Discern and turn from evil in all its forms.

Knowledge - Romans 12:2
.....Dedication to the Light: Commit yourself to the light of Scripture.

Self-control - Matthew 6:19
.....Investment in Service: Become involved in lasting achievement.

Endurance - 1 Peter 4:12
.....Endurance in Suffering: Expect to be misunderstood.

Godliness - Romans 8:29
.....Humility in Responses: Respond as God would to those who wrong you.

Brotherly Kindness - 2 Corinthians 1:4
.....Alertness in Sharing: Be alert to others who have been hurt.

Love - Colossians 1:29
.....Reproduction of Maturity: Guide others through the same steps God has taken you.

.....To the degree we respond to each of the 8 callings, we increase the scope of our "Life Message" and thereby experience the Will of God for our lives. The first step is to receive Eternal Life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, (John 3:3).

.....One of the greatest causes of diminishing the potential of our "Life Message" is the failure to turn from all the thoughts, words, and actions, which we know greive the Spirit of God. Either we separate ourselves from our sins, or sins of separate us from fellowship of God. We're not only to separate ourselves from those things which cause us to stumble, but also from practices which cause our "Weaker Brothers" to be offended.

.....Dedication is the maturing action of giving to God what really belongs to Him already. We are then free to set our affections on things above rather than on things of this earth. You see, it's not enough just to turn from that which is evil, we must also turn to that which is good.

.....We must also add to our knowledge, temperance and self-control, which keeps a hold of selfish passions and desires in check. Self-control is the basis of fruitful Christian service. With self-control we do not serve ourselves, but are morally free to serve one another in love. Service involves laying up treasures in heaven, and building spiritual maturity in the lives of those around us. Men keep looking for better methods, and God keeps looking for better men.

.....Suffering is essential in order to experience the final 3 callings, (1 Peter 4:12). Suffering will usually come from people you would least expect. It is designed to open new sections of Scripture to us, and is God's way of freeing us from that which hinders us from, "Setting Our Affections on the Things Above." Suffering is most painful when we are partly at fault.

.....When we humble ourselves through the suffering that God allows, He gives us more grace, both to respond to our offenders and to see new and rich insights in His Word. Humility is the basis of Godliness, always bringing about deeper understanding. Godliness involves worth-ship or reverence paid to worth, whether in God or man. Also, a Godly response to those who offend us helps us recognize that God has used them to put us through the "Fire of Purification, Removing the Dross", that will be for our ultimate benefit if we respond to it, and to them, in the right way.

.....The bottom line is that when these Christian virtues, or callings are established in our lives, it will cause us to be fruitful in the very Knowledge of God. The life that comes from the Knowledge of God can produce only good in our response to others. To fail to grow in Christ results in stunting our spiritual development and inability to perceive the blessings received upon our initial salvation, and in doing so, our identification with Christ Jesus is forgotten or ignored. This results in a lapse of our old sins. God's Will is for each of us to know who we really are in Christ, and to share that understanding with others, thus making disciples, reproducing Christ in others, bringing Glory to Him.

WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN ME...About Marriage

Good marriages don't just happen. It is not just because you married the right person and got lucky. Good marriages are built on more than passion. They are built on principle.

In the Scriptures, we find the best guidelines and principles for a healthy marriage. God's words and God's principles are never ever outdated...never! They are just as applicable today as they were to ancient Jews living in Israel.

I want to point us to principles God has given us in a place you might not think was intended for marriage. That place is the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20.

Let me give you those Ten Commandments. What I would like you to do is spend time reading these carefully, and then take time to pray over each one. Ask God to begin to open your heart to see how these commands could be looked at as principles for marriage. I had a friend who challenged me to do the same, and I was amazed at what I discovered.

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image...

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain...

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

The First Commandment of Marriage: Exclusivity

The first of the Ten Commandments is simply this, as found in Exodus 20:3,

"You shall have no other gods before Me."

What is God saying in this commandment? That He wants to have an exclusive relationship with you. He wants to be your one and only. He will not settle for flavor of the month.

And how appropriate in marriage as well. We are to have an exclusive relationship with our spouse.

It's been said that Henry Ford, on his golden wedding anniversary...50 years of marriage...was asked, "What's the secret of your success in marriage?" And he said, "The secret of my successful marriage is the same secret that I have in business: I stick to the same model."

In traditional wedding vows, the man and woman pledge their devotion until death parts them. For life. There is no competition.

My wife has no competition. I am not shopping for a new model. I do not want to trade in the old model. I will not be shopping in the future. One is all I need.

The Second Commandment of Marriage: Don't Love a Substitute

In the second commandment recorded in Exodus 20:4-6, we are given the second principle for a strong marriage,

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

God commanded that there be no carved images, whether in heaven, in earth, or in the sea. He wanted to make sure everything was covered. And He said not to bow down to them and worship them. God said, "Do not make images of Me and then worship them. Don not love or worship a substitute for Me. Love Me."

Religion has made pictures, statues, and idols and then called them holy. They are all imitations. They are all substitutes. And in marriage we should have no substitutes either.

Pornography is a substitute. When a man watches pornography, he is loving a substitute. He is directing his passion and his sexuality toward those images. That is a substitute, and he is robbing his wife of that intimacy.

Do not allow any substitute, no matter what it might be, to take the place of intimacy with your spouse.

The Third Commandment of Marriage: Speak Well of Your Mate

Exodus 20:7 gives us our third commandment of marriage,

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

Many misunderstand the term, in vain. It means empty, meaningless, insincere, not showing due respect.

When we speak flippantly or lightly about someone, we erode our respect for that person. Some people are just far too casual in the way they speak of their spouse, and it erodes your respect for him or her.

In marriage, few things can affect the relationship like words. Words are containers. They can contain love; they can contain hate; they can contain joy; they can contain bitterness.

The book of James says that our tongue is like a rudder on a ship. It will send the ship of your marriage in whatever direction your words go. Some people are on the brink of divorce because they talk divorce. Just listen to the words they say. Are they negative or positive? Critical or encouraging?

Think about what you say. Are you building up your partner? Learn to speak well of your mate. Build them up with your words. Be lavish with your praise. You will be pleased with where those words will take your relationship.

The Fourth Commandment of Marriage: Spend Exclusive Time Together

The fourth commandment, found in Exodus 20:8-11,

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."

Sabbath means an intermission. It means to put down your work and rest. Take a break. And holy means separate to the Lord. "If you want a long-term relationship with Me," God says, "We have to have time together. I want special time, exclusive time. I want a whole day."

In the same way, in order to have a healthy, growing marriage, husbands and wives need time together...special time, exclusive time, sometimes extravagant time. And I think we all know that if we do not schedule it, it will not happen.

If your marriage is to thrive, you need to spend exclusive time together. You can't build a relationship and not spend time together. It is just not possible.

The Fifth Commandment of Marriage: Honor Your Spouse by Showing How Grateful You Are

The fifth commandment gives us our next principle for a healthy and vibrant marriage. It is found in Exodus 20:12,

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you."

Among other things, God is saying we must be grateful. Generally, parents spend a lot of time, labor, and money...sometimes to the point of radical sacrifice...to give their kids an edge in life.

And it is a tragedy when a child is ungrateful or unthankful. William Shakespeare said, "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." It is very difficult to have a relationship with an ungrateful, selfish person.

"Thank you" are important words to your parents, and an incredibly important phrase in marriage. It is difficult to live with someone who takes you and all of your efforts for granted.

You may be thinking, "I don't say it, but I am grateful in my heart. I truly am!" Well, hooray for you. You are blessed because in your heart you know you are grateful. But it does your spouse no good if you do not vocalize it.

If you do not demonstrate your gratitude, I doubt if you are really grateful because Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." If it is not being expressed, chances are it is not truly there.

Maybe you think you don't have a lot to be grateful for. But there must be something you can say "thank you" for. There is something you can praise your mate for. Look for those things, and accentuate the positive.

Take time today to express thanks to your spouse in some way...through an action, through a card, through words. That is how you honor your mate.

The Sixth Commandment of Marriage: Don't Destroy Your Spouse But Learn to be Gentle

The sixth commandment God gave to Israel in Exodus 20:13,
"You shall not murder."

While you might think this commandment is not too applicable, I believe it is vital. It is telling you not to destroy your spouse!

Jesus helps us understand this principle in Matthew 5. He said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment."

Jesus went right to the root of murder: anger and hatred. If you are going to have a good, healthy, lasting marriage, you need to learn to be gentle. People who are easily angered...who are violent or have an explosive temper...destroy relationships.

If you are dating someone who blows up easily, you ought to take it as a warning sign. If they get mad at things at the drop of a hat, that anger can be turned on you very easily.

Anger erodes relationships. If you have a hot temper, get it under control, or the devil will control you through it.

Another way anger is expressed is by going stone cold...using silence and angry moodiness to punish your mate. Again, not a healthy thing for a marriage. If you anger quickly and forgive slowly, you are a hard person to live with. Work at being quick to forgive, and make the controlling of your anger a serious matter of prayer. God will help you.

If you do not master your temper, it will master you. And it will not only decay and destroy a marriage relationship, it will harm every other meaningful relationship you have in life.

We're going to skip the Seventh Commandment here -- "Do Not Commit Adultery"

-- to address it in a more in-depth manner

The Eighth Commandment of Marriage: Be a Person of Integrity

Exodus 20:15 gives us the eighth commandment for marriage,
You shall not steal.

You may be wondering how stealing applies to marriage. Simple. Not to steal is to be a person of integrity.

If you are always cheating or cutting corners, it will be hard for your spouse to respect you. Your uprightness should make your marriage partner feel proud. Your spouse and your family ought to testify of your integrity. This is really one of the things at the heart of a good marriage.

If you are married to somebody, and you know they cheat their customers, it is just hard to respect that person. You cannot respect someone who does not have integrity.

This is a big issue that many people fly right by. But it is vital to a healthy and vibrant marriage because it is hard to fully give yourself to someone who does not have integrity.

If you find that your spouse is holding back, if you feel like he or she does not respect you, take a look inside and see if you are compromising with your integrity. Do you cheat on your taxes? Do you tell that "little white lie" to protect yourself or gain an advantage?
Do you represent yourself one way, when in fact in your heart you believe something totally different? Are you like the man Solomon speaks of in Proverbs 23:7?

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

If this is an issue in your life, take it to God today. He will help you become the person of integrity He desires you to be. And when you do, you will find your spouse will come to respect you, and your marriage will be strengthened!

The Ninth Commandment of Marriage: Be Truthful

The ninth commandment for marriage speaks to the heart of any marriage, trust. It is found in Exodus 20:16,

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Someone who would lie about their neighbor, for whatever reason, is not going to make a good marriage partner. Honesty and trust are at the heart of a good marriage.

If you take advantage of people for your own gain, speaking untruthfully to get ahead, you are not a person to be trusted. And you ultimately are the loser.

I am reminded of the guy who was in a fender bender, and he faked an injury, pretended like he hurt his arm and his shoulder. As a result, the poor little lady who had run into his car was subjected to a truly horrible situation. She was grilled by attorneys, had to give depositions, and ended up in court.

But this guy continued trying to take her for all she was worth. He didn't care because he knew she had money. He didn't care if she had to give up her house. He was looking at an opportunity to get rich.The attorney for the lady's insurance company put him on the stand and said, "I would like to know, since the accident, since you injured your arm and your shoulder, how far can you now raise your arm?"With great pain etched on his face, he said, "Well...'bout here. That's it. Just to here." Then the attorney asked, "Well, how far could you lift it before the accident?" The guy responded, raising his arm with ease, "I could lift it up to here."
Needless to say, he lost.

Anyone who is not truthful will ultimately lose. And if your spouse will lie to someone else, he or she will lie to you.

The Tenth Commandment of Marriage: Be Content with What You Have

Today we come to the final commandment for marriage. That commandment is based on the tenth commandment given to the nation of Israel in Exodus 20:17,

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

This command is very direct. Do not covet. Don't be discontent with what you have. Do not make what you don't have the focus of your life. Accentuate what you do have and what God has blessed you and your spouse with.

You do this by celebrating your husband's or wife's strengths and giftings rather than thinking, "Oh, I wish he was this way," or, "I wish she had that."

I can build a house from the ground up; and if anything mechanical breaks down, I can fix it.

While I am a Mr. Fix-It, there are other things that I am not good at. I am so grateful that Lora wanted to pull those things out of me and give wings to the gifts, ( In Christ) she saw that I do have. And I want to do the same thing for her.

You will always get into trouble if you think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Just water your own grass. Because on the other side of the fence, it's just Astroturf anyway.

I struggled with drugs while searching for answers. It was not until I was 40 years of age(13 AUGUST, 2008) and thinking about my 3 blessed children and my soulmate that the Lord showed me the powerful reality of a relationship with Christ. Since August 13, 2008, the Lord has opened my eyes to the Answers (FREEDOM IN CHRIST) which I will prophetically fulfill in Christ, spreading the gospel to the nations around the world, blowing the horn, with a clear sounding word.

When God made man, He said it is good. But then He said, "It is not good that he is alone. I am going to make a helper suitable for him." And the Bible says God took one of Adam's ribs, and He formed a woman, Eve, and brought her to the man.

God did not take four or five ribs and say, "Okay, Adam, here is Eve, and here is Lois, and here is Samantha, and here is Rachel." No, it was just one. And to have a healthy marriage relationship, that is it.

My dream is not up in the sky or up in the stars when I look up, it is right here in my heart. (In Christ)

I am committed for life. An exclusive relationship. I am not shopping, not even window-shopping. One God. One wife. That is enough.

I LOVE YOU LORA, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER- ED

Ambassador for Christ
Pastor Edward Hajj