Reflections from my message today at NRN - The Pause for Love.

The Pause for LOVE

Christmas – A Love Story

 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”          Matthew 1:21

 “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.”                           John 3:16

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: ʻLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.ʼ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ʻLove your neighbor as yourself.’ ”    Matthew 22:36-39

Love Much

 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”          1 John 3:16

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another!   As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”                    John 13:34-35

 “Make love your greatest aim…”                      1 Corinthians 14:1 LB

1. Experience GOD’S   LOVE  for yourself.

  

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”              Luke 7:47

 “We love because he first loved us.”                                          1 John 4:19

2. Don’t  wait for THE   FEELING.

 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them…”                                                           Matthew 9:35-36

3. TRAIN   YOUR  EYES to see people differently.

 “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.   On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.  A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ʻTake good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—Iʼll pay you on my way back.

 “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”                             

                                                                                     Luke 10:30-37 Message

Every person we encounter is either…

Ø A victim to EXPLOIT.

Ø A problem to AVOID .

Ø A person to be LOVED .

4. DO  SOMETHING .

 “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”                                                                                           1 John 3:18

 “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”                                           Proverbs 3:27-28 Message

Love is INTENTIONALLY doing something caring or helpful for another person, regardless of the cost or consequence.





"Christmas is Love"

Christmas is here,
That time of year, 
When we give and forgive one another.
Christmas is home,
And you're not alone
I'll be your friend, I'll hold your hand,
I'll keep you warm... Christmas is every time you give the gift of love, It's every sacrifice you make to bring a smile.

:// Christmas is peace in the midst of despair,
Joy that covers all the pain,
It's when you know that you're not alone
When you stumble and you fall...
Christmas is God giving His Son
So you have hope when there's none.
Christmas is Love. Christmas is every time you give the gift of love, It's every sacrifice you make to bring a smile.

://Wherever you are, whatever you do
I'll say a Christmas prayer for you!
I'll pray you have peace in the midst of despair
And joy that covers all the pain..
I want you to know that you're not alone
When you stumble and you fall!
'Cause Christmas is God giving His Son
So you have hope, when there's none.
Christmas is Love.