LOVE

Of all the abilities and gifts given by God and of all the gifts and abilities any human being can ever exhibit in their life, the greatest is LOVE. 
Ask God to empower you today to love sombodies!

1 Corinthians 12:31 AMP
But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all--love].

1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP
And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-pJJnjdzVg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Again?

Yes we did it again, (yesterday via a proxi vote at the SCOTUS) just like the Israelites. Over and over and over again we snub our noses at the gracious, merciful God of the universe.  LOOK OUT AMERICA!

Judges 10:6 AMP
And the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, served the Baals, the Ashtaroth [female deities], the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. They forsook the Lord and did not serve Him.

The Snare

Looks harmless and cant possibly cause that much damage...right?  Things are going real well, then that little snare that trips you up and takes you off coarse.  Why is it we so often loose sight of the real object.  Remember Gideon that outstanding leader who by the power of God defeated the insurmountable enemy with a handfull of guys? (Judges 6-8).  Just like we do so often, Gideon made a ephod and it diverted the attention of the children of Israel from the focus of their worship. 

Judges 8:27 AMP
And Gideon made an ephod [a sacred, high priest’s garment] of it, and put it in his city of Ophrah, and all Israel paid homage to it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

Lets be reminded to not loose focus today.  Keep your eyes and worship on the right person.

Hebrews 12:2-3 AMP
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

Go Ahead Sing A Song

Have you ever just broke out in song? Maybe in the shower or riding down the road in your car.  Has there ever been a time when God has done something wonderful or you see His awesome handiwork and your heart leaps?  Go ahead sing a song....maybe even make one up to your own tune.  Maybe your a classical music fan or a country fan or a rap fan...go ahead give it a try, sing to the Lord. 

In Judges 5 Deborah and Barak sang a song of victory.  The Psalmist reminds us to sing.  Go ahead no one else  is listening just start singing to the Lord.  Do you have anything to sing about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=you_nCf6cgQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Imitate Me?

Am I worthy to be imitated? Not hardly.  Does my my life so imitate Christ that I dare call others to imitate Christ in me, because Christ is such a manifested outgrowth in my life? All to often, Not!

Here is the challenge from Scripture.  Are we capable of the challenge?  No!  But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP
PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).

Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP
THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.