And today I'm reminded why I love my church or at least one reason.
“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV
I love that my church is a church that accepts people right where they are (and today it meant that I could attend in running pants and a sweatshirt after doing a 5k with friends) and that our church (everyone in it) loves people enough to not leave them where they are.
One the pastors speaks truth. It might be hard for people to hear but if we want to love Jesus with our whole hearts and lives, we've got to hear the parts of the bible that help us to really open us up to the parts that will take our brokenness and find healing in Him. Today's message was no exception. Funny how we (I) can struggle with something just 4 days before and God says "here's what's My Word says about your struggle, and here's now you're going to be healed of that struggle." It's not hard but it does take obedience (and self control).
Today in the message our pastor reminded us "It's getting colder. It's only going to get colder."
The reality of our lives is that there is never on absence of need. But God is the God of abundance.
I want to love open heartedly and open handedly. And In that I have to remember that all I have is His, and freely He gave and freely I must give.
We need to hear truth. I also love that our pastor was honest about something he needs to work on too. Truth, real hard, truth.
Let's love Jesus and strive everyday to live Jesus. God gives us new opportunities everyday to be faithful.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.””
Matthew 25:35-46 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.25.35-46.niv
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