God, bring our countrymen together again. Let the strife that's encouraged through television, the media, and politicians end. Amen
"From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint
with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the
body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Ephesians 4:16
Have a beautiful Sunday.............build someone up.
Z
23 comments:
Z - Yes - bring our country together again. You couldn't ask for a better prayer than that.
Beautiful picture - too.
Have a great Sunday - Z.
I'm afraid that one cannot begin the process of building up a lasting edifice until the underlying decrepit and crumbling foundations are torn down and cleared away.
Do not think that I came to bring peace on Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:34–39
Thersites, those verses are difficult and need a lot of Bible background to interpret correctly...not my choice for here, but thanks for the reminder.
I agree about the underlying foundations..they're really shot beyond much help.
THanks.
Sue, glad you like the picture, too.
Our language and contemporary understanding of the word “love” corrupts the Biblical definition and meaning of love. In the Bible, we speak of love as being from God, as in “God is love.” Love is one of the primary characteristics of God, and He has endowed us with the capacity for love.
The language of the New Testament was Greek, translated into English. The word in Greek for love is “agape.” This love is represented by God’s love for us; it is non-partial; it is a sacrificial love best exemplified by God’s provision for our rebellion.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life.” —John 3:16
God’s gift to mankind, His son, was a gift to us all. God’s love is unconditional.
The Greek word “phileo” describes a conditional kind of love; one that is based on the behavior of others toward us. It is based on our emotions and contrasts significantly with agape —the latter kind of love is extended through the spirit. Agape requires a relationship with God through His son Jesus. Agape love is extended to us, and expects nothing in return. Again, it is unconditional. It is given to each of us.
The most famous biblical chapter on love is found in 1 Corinthians (13: 1—13). Read it again; think about it, and work your mind to understand it … for this is the love that will bring us peace and closer to Him.
If you are not a Christian, strive to express love as it is defined in the Bible, but attempting to do so beyond the power of God is simply not possible because this kind of love is only possible by relying on the power of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Love comes to those who abide in Christ.
"How good it is for brothers to dwell together in peace."
Also
"Who are my brothers and sisters?".
Ge then indicated that His brothers and sisters were His followers. Even to the exclusion of His mother and brothers who were outside the door (having come to put Him away as mad).
"Dwell in peace with all men. As much as it is possible."
There are forces I will not find peace with.
He, not Ge .
@ED:
"He, not Ge.."
Really Ed? I though you were being PC!
And adding a new gender designation!
:-)
Crap...thought
Ed, tell us more about his mother and brothers thinking he was mad, with links, please?
Thanks!
Sam, it's not only the word LOVE but also scripture like "he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me" which can be badly understood. This is why I am extremely careful what scripture I use here; always have been.
I'm not here to push faith on anybody, I try not to confuse anybody (a couple of years ago, we had someone intent on taking faith to its farthest limit and inserting such condemnation for not interpreting as that person did...and I was about to stop my faith Sunday because it was harming more than helping...I was desperate that my blog was turning people off; Thankfully, it stopped)
I do my Sunday faith blogs to give a day from politics, solace and hopeful reminders to Christians, and I know with certainty that one person did become a more faithful believer and several have said "you give me 'permission' to speak of my faith..." and I even see Jesus mentioned at blogs which NEVER did before, so it's rewarding and thrilling and I hope a good gift to God!
Sam is it significant that the KJV never mentions love in the Corinthian passage but charity?
Yeah, Ed, there are definitely forces we will never find peace with. It varies by individual.
The OT was never really keen on mercy to those outside the tribe.
Myself, if we aren't sincerely trying to enlarge the boundaries of the tribe then we are just playing a losing parochial game.
Oh good. Negativity! I was afraid we would get through a day without it. Thanks, Duck.
As I wrote about translations and the use of words, I think Ducky’s question is a good one. I’m not sure if Z is chastising me for the distinction, so I hesitate to write at length. Let me only say in response to Ducky that in Christian life, Charity is seen as the epitome of perfection —the greatest of three abiding virtues. Charity is not giving away money or property (1 Corinthians 13:3) so it is believed that charity is a word that refers to the love we have toward other human beings, as reflected in Romans 14:13-15, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, and in 1 Peter 4:8-9.
I apologize, Z …
Mar 3:21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
Mar 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Mar 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
Mar 3:32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
Mar 3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
Imp: Funny how keybooards misbehave :)
Sam: Excellent exposition.
Sam! I admired and liked your comment. I am SO SORRY if it came off like I was chastising YOU.
You were perfectly correct in your defining LOVE for those who've studied scripture and writings about it more than others.
No...If you read my comment again, the only thing I meant to YOU is the comment about how LOVE can be misinterpreted as does "follow me on the cross". I think there are actually people unstudied enough to think that Christ's saying if you don't give everything up and carry a cross on your back, you're not enough on His side :-)
I'm SO sorry you thought I was chastising you in ANY way. I was ABSOLUTELY not.
Ducky's question is the kind I worry about.
People misunderstand and it doesn't make for a good situation; let's put it that way.
I'm blessed to study about every six weeks with a young rabbi who reads the OT in Hebrew and so many words don't really have the meaning our interpreters place on them.
You're right about charity; excellent description.
Again, sorry for the misunderstanding..that wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at the worries I have about doing a faith blog at ALL.
Ed, thanks for that. I now remember having read that but it's not dwelt too much upon and had forgotten it.
We were working in the kitchen Sunday and there was a program on about Armageddon.
The focus was where the battlefield would be that would manifest itself preceding 1000 years of peace afterwards.
It was Jerusalem. To me, that seems obvious. At the time this was written, the known world was this area so it's not surprising but it is also HQ for islam which I believe to be run by Satan. Those folks just don't seem to want to get along. All the moderate muslims in the world won't mean a thing when a person is having their head chopped off by a 7th century barbarian.
Anyway, things like this take time to manifest. Centuries.
We are growing further apart and we will be doing that for a good long time until either good or evil wins some major battle and beats the other back into a 1000 years of submission.
Is what I got from it and also what I tend to believe regardless.
I like the prayer, Z...
As you know, there is much power in that, accomplishing more than we could ever imagine.
Maybe, this has nothing to do with what your post is about, but for some reason, I thought of it:
My mother was an invalid, and my husband and I cared for her for many years...and this is something that AOW can identify with, too.
Mother required care, 24/7, for several years, and even though we were in close proximity to several relatives, the only 'help' we ever got were criticisms, and harsh remarks made about us to others.
She had two sisters who came around at their convenience, but never ours, and the younger one was the worst at always checking things out, and finding fault with everything, to the paint that my husband demanded that she stay away...after which it was like a war, with some really harsh things said to us, and about us.
One day, as I was praying, I asked the Lord why my aunt wanted to hurt me, and why did she hate me, so? I was so hurt, and I poured my heart out to Him, with many tears.
Surprisingly, He did answer my question, but it was not what I had expected.
As I prayed, it became as clear to me, as a bell, that it wasn't that she hated me, at all...only that she loved my mother, her sister, so much.
The hurt and resentment just melted away, and I, immediately, called her and told her that she was welcome in our home, and would always be.
I had called her, many times, to tell her that she could visit Mother, again, and she always refused...but this time, she didn't.
Many times, since then, she has told me how very badly she felt about the way she had treated me, and that she loves me like her own daughter...and she does, I know.
I don't know why I wanted to tell this, but I did, and I thank you, again, for allowing any who wish, to express their faith, here.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that when we get right down to it, prayer, and hope, really is the answer.
Jan
xoxo
@ Kid
I think Jefferson nailed it when he said, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots, and tyrants." It is classical good vs. evil. Of course it can't work when everyone is PC except the evil ones ...
@ Mustang.
One thing about PC. It doesn't last long in a predatory environment.
Kid, and it could start with Israel and Iran, obviously...right? And soon.
Jan, I didn't see who wrote your comment until the end but, all the way through my reading, I knew it was you. When I saw "Jan," it didn't surprise me at all.
I love when you share things like this.
God bless you, Jan!
Z, That's the general thinking, though I don't know about soon. I think the elements of the situation will need to get pretty hot first. Things such as clear evidence of Iran producing a nuclear bomb(s). Or maybe it will begin by one of the others creating a situation that is beyond reason for Israel.
hamas,hizzies,syrians,???
I'd sure think the situation is being actively managed by vermin at the UN and within enemy borders.
In the overall scheme, 5 years or 40 years from now will look about the same when reading history. I actually thought things would have occurred before now, so I'm no judge of timing.
And thanks for the reply as it affords me the opportunity to say my comment is all big picture stuff And that I So Much support your focus that we need to concentrate on the lovely things in our lives as priority one.
Throughout history, we can easily see that there was probably never a time when people couldn't focus on current events and be so negative about them that it had a real negative impact on their lives if they did.
We can't control such things. We can only decide to focus on and do things that are positive for ourselves and those around us. When we're 80, we will give a rats butt what pelosi did in 2013? Not me. In a free society people have the right to vote for morons who should be institutionalized rather than sent to congress.
But we can observe and comment.
kid, but my focus is as positive as it can get. As I put on my post "build someone up"....make someone glad they're alive, in other words.
UNITY is important for America and we're being divided.
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